India has called issue of new map of Nepal including Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura encroached by India unacceptable.
Responding to media queries on the updated map of Nepal, Spokesperson with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Anurag Srivastava said the map is not based on historical facts and evidence. "It is contrary to the bilateral understanding to resolve the outstanding boundary issues through diplomatic dialogue. Such artificial enlargement of territorial claims will not be accepted by India," Srivastava stated.
India had unilaterally published its new map including the Nepali territory of Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura encroached by India on November 2, 2019. Nepal had issued diplomatic note protesting that and proposed to sit for dialogue but India has yet to agree to sit for dialogue.
"Nepal is well aware of India’s consistent position on this matter and we urge the Government of Nepal to refrain from such unjustified cartographic assertion and respect India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity," Srivastava has said Wednesday.
He also urged the Nepali leadership to create a positive atmosphere for diplomatic dialogue to resolve the outstanding boundary issues. It is worth noting that India has not showed interest to hold the foreign secretary level talks, the bilaterally agreed mechanism to resolve the border dispute, despite Nepal twice proposing the dates for holding the meeting since November 2019.
The government has made the new map including Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura public on Wednesday. The territorial area of Nepal has increased by 335 square kilometers with inclusion of the territory up to Limpyadhura.
The government on Monday passed a new map including Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura.
The government in its policy and programs presented to the House on Friday had pledged to issue a new map including Limpiyadhura.
Inauguration of the Indian road via Lipu Lekh on April 8 has been widely criticized by the ruling and opposition parties alike.
The Foreign Ministry has already expressed regret over the unilateral construction and urged India to refrain from carrying out any activity inside the territory of Nepal. It then summoned the Indian Ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra and handed a diplomatic note conveying Nepal's position on the issue.
Nepal has consistently maintained that as per the Sugauli Treaty (1816), all the territories east of Kali (Mahakali) River, including Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipu Lekh, belong to Nepal.
Nepal had also expressed its disagreement in 2015 through separate diplomatic notes addressed to the governments of both India and China when the two sides agreed to include Lipu Lekh Pass as a bilateral trade route without Nepal’s consent in the Joint Statement issued on 15 May 2015 during the official visit of the Prime Minister of India to China.
