'International Arbitration a possible solution to resolve India-Nepal border dispute'

Nepal is unlikely to back down on Kalapani dispute despite several attempts made to cool down the contentious border row between the two nations where international arbitration would be a possible solution.

New Delhi: Despite the thaw in ties between India and Nepal with both the countries making efforts to normalize the ties through bilateral talks recently, the border dispute over Kalapani is unlikely to see any major changes.

An expert opines that Nepal is unlikely to back down on Kalapani dispute despite several attempts made to cool down the contentious border row between the two nations. Whereas, another analyst says that it can be expected that border issue will be addressed but the outcome of it remains to be seen.

Former Indian Envoy SD Muni said, “After Foreign Secretary visited Nepal, a decision was taken on border negotiations. There is already a group which is looking at the border of the two countries. Once that group meets, then only we will know whether to some extend compromise is possible or not. Nepal has indeed taken a position, it has amended its constitution, but let us see what comes out of that. Before that, it is difficult to say that they will not arrive at any solution”.

“There are various possibilities of solution-they can appoint a group to look into the facts on both the sides, they can go for international arbitration, adjoin sovereignty. There are many formulas which many other countries have applied. So that stage will come later, but so far India-Nepal hasn’t sat down with their respective documents explaining their facts. Let them do this, which they have now agreed to. Therefore, there is some cooling down in the hot words which have been exchanged earlier”, Muni suggested.

“Nepal will not give up its claim on Kalapani. One can have normal relation like India and China have had a very normal bilateral relation despite full border dispute now for almost over 60 years. So now after having published new maps, having had it passed through Parliament, Nepalese cannot give up that issue”, Lt. General (Retd) Ashok Mehta told ETV Bharat.

“Normalization of relation and improvement of bilateral ties does not mean old issues have gone because the issue has plummeted to such depth- after 2015 the non-recognition of the constitution, the economic –blockade, India publishing the map, construction of road and not agreeing to have bilateral talks, all these factors had a cumulative effect, worsening the already the bad relation”, General Mehta points out.

So now there is a thaw but the thaw doesn’t mean that the whole issue will disappear. They will get settled if there are negotiations and talks, those talks have not started yet, Mehta reiterated.

Read: Nearly 80 foreign ambassadors to visit Hyderabad

“India and Nepal are trying to get back to normal relations. It is expected that border issue will be addressed but what comes out of it remains to be seen. Pradeep Gyawali’s visit to India will see a discussion of the entire gamut of bilateral relation not only border issue”, Ex Envoy Muni further added.

Nepal’s Foreign Ministry has listed the publication of the country’s new map as one of the key highlights of 2020 as far as its foreign policy report is concerned. This comes ahead of Nepal’s Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali prepares to visit New Delhi this month.

The Foreign Ministry said in its Report on Foreign Affairs for 2019-20 that Nepal was forced to issue a new map after India failed to rectify its map by excluding 'Nepal's Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh areas' from it.

Gyawali, commenting on his ministry's report, stated that the two neighbours would be able to resolve the border dispute through constructive dialogue and basis "historical treaty, evidence and facts".

Read: Turkey seeks detention of 304 military personnel

The Nepalese FM is visiting India later this month to take part in the sixth joint commission meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla had recently visited Nepal and extended an invite to the Nepalese FM to visit India.

Commenting on the foreign policy report of Nepal, Mehta further said, “In the foreign policy document under the Oli regime, they have mentioned about the mutual policy of equidistance but they have not given up their claims to Kalapani. They have said in the report that 95% of the border has been settled except Susta and Kalapani. So the Kalapani issue will stay until there are some negotiations.

The settlement will happen at a political level. Both the countries have tried this for the last 40 years to resolve the border dispute and on Kalapani, both India and Nepal has failed to reach at a mutually acceptable solution, despite the conflicting evidence that is provided by the two sides. The only way to settle the issue is through a political solution. In my view,w, there will be an engagement at the level of the Prime Ministers which is bound to happen in the New Year. There is no doubt that PM Modi will visit Nepal or vice versa”, Mehta underlined.

It reiterated in the report that Nepal-India boundary demarcation work was complete on all segments except Susta and North-Western sectors and that Nepal has consistently stressed on completion of the remaining boundary demarcation work as early as possible.

On Monday, India and Nepal reviewed the progress in terms of bilateral economic agenda and discussed ways to enhance cross-border trade and investment among several other things. Co-chaired by Commerce Secretaries of India and Nepal, the meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) on Trade, Transit and Cooperation to Control Unauthorised Trade was held via video conference.

During the meeting, it was noted that the movement of trade, as well as commercial cargo in trucks across the land border of India and Nepal, remained smooth and unimpeded despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following the border row between the countries earlier this year, during foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla's visit to Kathmandu in November aimed at normalising the bilateral ties, Nepal had hinted a desire to review matters including trade and transit arrangements.

Read: Three Covid-19 vaccines under active consideration of EUA: Central government