Drawing the Line

Context: India-Nepal relations should not be derailed by the unfortunate display of cynical brinkmanship by Nepal’s short-sighted leaders in terms of their historical fact-based territorial claims over India.

Historical Facts in Consonance with India’s Territorial Claims

• Anglo-Nepal Treaty of Sugauli of 1816: recognizes the Kali river as the western boundary between British India and Nepal.
• Withdrawal of Indian military-cum-police posts: from the Nepal-China border (1969) except the one at Kalapani which was not in the Nepali list as it allowed India’s hold on to Kalapani as a security concern.
• Article 1 of Nepal-China border agreement: description of the western extremity of the China-Nepal border where Pillar No 1, (starting point at the western extremity) is located at Tinker Pass.

• Nepal referred to it as“number zero border pillar” (trijunction of Nepal, India, and China).

• Nepal-China trade and transit agreement (1954): lists six border passes including Lipulekh.

Way Forward

• Diplomatic concession: by allowing Nepali citizens to have privileged access to the Kalapani area for trade or pilgrimage.
• Permitting use of border infrastructure: by Nepali citizens for easier access from one part of Nepal to another.
• Nepal’s natural affinity with India: because of its shared Hindu heritage is insufficient for consolidating political relations and preventing Nepal’s penchant to wave the China card in India’s face to advance its interests. 

Conclusion: India should stand its ground on the territorial issue and must look at ways in which Nepali sentiments could be assuaged.