Downplaying the border row with India, Nepal’s foreign minister Shisir Khanal on Thursday noted that neighbours will have ‘boundary problems’ and also implied that the issue was being blown out of proportion, stating that it is “not as big as it is made out to be”.
At the time, India firmly rejected Nepal’s move and said that the Nepalese government had released a revised official map that included parts of Indian territory. “Only neighbours will have boundary problems. If you’re not a neighbour, you would not have that problem. I mean, we have very open borders. It’s unique in the world. “This unilateral act is not based on historical facts and evidence. It is contrary to the bilateral understanding to resolve the outstanding boundary issues through diplomatic dialogue.
People can just walk without any paper, pretty much,” Khanal said at an NDTV event as he acknowledged that there are “some issues” Nepal had raised objections to India and China’s plan to conduct the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via the Lipulekh Pass, claiming it is Kathmandu’s territory. The Nepalese foreign ministry said that Kathmandu was not consulted before finalising the pilgrimage route. “Nepal doesn’t intend to enlarge its boundary; the territory belongs to Nepal, and the government has a clear view about this and is committed to its stance,” Sasmit Pokharel, the Nepal government’s spokesperson, had said amid the row. India also rejected any involvement of third parties in resolving its boundary dispute with Nepal as reports said that Nepalese prime Minister Balendra Shah had sought the participation of China and the United Kingdom to address the long-standing issue. However, Nepal later said it was in favour getting the dispute resolved through existing bilateral mechanisms as “no problem is too large and complex” when both sides meet with an open heart, rational mind and mutual respect. Such artificial enlargement of territorial claims will not be accepted by India,” the MEA had said.
