Nepal, India to hold boundary talks in Lucknow next month

Nepal and India are set to convene for their 13th Survey Officials' Committee meeting in Lucknow from August 12 to 14. The gathering aims to finalize plans and budgets for implementing a prior agreement on technical boundary work, including pillar maintenance and documenting encroachments. This meeting, however, will not address the long-standing territorial disputes over Kalapani and Susta.

Senior officials from Nepal's Department of Survey indicated that the upcoming session will focus on the remaining year of a three-year timeline agreed upon for completing technical boundary tasks. This timeline, initially set in 2015 and renewed in 2017, has been repeatedly missed due to various factors, including funding issues, the COVID-19 pandemic, and recurring border disagreements.

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We have already completed two years of the agreed timeline. The upcoming meeting will chart out the plan for the remaining one year.

The boundary issue has been a prominent topic between the two nations since Nepal released a new political map in 2020. Bilateral efforts to resolve technical aspects of the border predate this, with significant agreements reached during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2014 visit. These efforts established the Boundary Working Group to manage border demarcation, pillar upkeep, and property records, but progress has been hampered by delays and strained relations.

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Once the agenda is finalised and shared between the two sides, there will be greater clarity on the issues to be discussed.