Nepal has never encroached upon Indian territory

Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah has asserted that his country has never encroached upon Indian territory, clarifying that while larger territorial claims by India exist, Nepal's involvement is limited to minor instances of "cross-holding occupation" of agricultural land.

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It might surprise you, but India hasn't just encroached on Nepal’s land; Nepal has also encroached on India's land in many places.

Speaking in Parliament, Shah explained that these situations arise from natural geographical changes, such as rivers altering their course. In these cases, farmers from one country might cultivate land that technically falls under the jurisdiction of the other. This phenomenon, exemplified by the Sirsiya River's altered course, results in small plots of land being farmed by individuals from the neighboring country, a situation distinct from significant territorial annexations.

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This implies that while Indian actors have occupied and asserted control over lands belonging to Nepali farmers, Nepali farmers have similarly cultivated and occupied agricultural plots belonging to Indian farmers.

Shah drew a clear distinction between these minor agricultural land uses and India's alleged encroachment in areas like Limpiyadhura, Kalapani, and Susta, which encompass a substantial territory of approximately 372 square kilometers. He emphasized that Nepal has not engaged in full-scale territorial encroachment.

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Nepal has not engaged in full-scale territorial encroachment at any border point in the manner that India has done in Limpiyadhura, Kalapani, and Susta.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister revealed that Nepal has initiated diplomatic dialogues concerning border issues not only with India and China but also with the United Kingdom. This engagement with the UK, the signatory to the original Treaty of Sugauli, is viewed as a potentially constructive step toward resolving long-standing border disputes through mediation, though official records of these UK talks have not yet been made public.

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If the Prime Minister is calling on the United Kingdom to step in as a third party to help resolve the Nepal-India border dispute, it is a commendable step.