Nepal not acting at behest of China, says country's Former PM on Lipulekh issue

Nepal Former Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal on Sunday said Nepal is an independent country and did not act at the behest of China or any other country on the border issue and called the reports "a flagrant violation".

Khanal spoke to WION’s Nepal Correspondent Saloni Murarka on the India-Nepal border issue. He was the first leader to break silence after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced road construction in the Lipulekh area, which has stirred an outrage in the Himalayan nation.

WION: Why do you think the border issue keeps coming back between two strong allies even when talks take place on further strengthening ties?

Add WION as a Preferred Source

WION: India has once again made its position clear on border issue, any comment?

Former PM Khanal: If India clarifies its position, it makes it more unclear because the facts speak the truth, not any speech by anybody. But where is the border :- we should go there, we should study, collect the facts and find out the truth. I also would like to call on Indian people, intellectuals, officials, and experts to study the Sugauli treay-what it says and what is the western border according to the treaty. They should study. And there are some joint mechanisms between India and Nepal that are even related to the border problems. That mechanism should be called as soon as possible to fix a meeting and should find out the facts. This type of problem should be solved.

WION: It is said that Nepal is creating a border issue with India at the behest of China. What do you have to say?

Former PM Khanal: It is a flagrant violation of the relationship between neighbors. It is a lie. Nepal is an independent country and it doesn't work on behalf of any country, neither India nor China. It's an independent country; our foreign policy is based on non-alignment. We don't want to align with any country in the world, but we want to be independent forever. We don't want to bow down to any power. The Indian government should also know this. We are ready to fight for our independence, for our sovereignty. We are not creating this problem; this problem is being created by the Indian government. This was the reality according to the Sugauli treaty. Is the Indian government ready to honour the Sugauli treaty or not? That is the main question. Let us study. We are neighbors, we are friends, but we should not create any misunderstandings because the border problem is very sensitive. It touches the sentiments of both nations.

WION: What is the Nepal government led by PM Sher Bahadur Deuba’s strategy to deal with the issue?

Former PM Khanal: I have already cleared my party position and other party has cleared their positions, that is I think the position of Nepal, we have already made a consensus in the period of past government. All party had met on this issue, we have consensus that Nepal's western border is up to Limpiyadura. Limpiyadura, Kalapani and Lipulekh are inalienable part of Nepal since the time of Sugauli treaty this is the position of Nepal, all party has agreed on it.

WION: As talks between both countries were postponed earlier due to COVID-19, and again the world has been hit by the third wave of COVID, if not diplomatic talks, then what next steps will Nepal take?

Former PM Khanal: First of all, at this time, if we cannot sit together physically, then science and technology have developed. Why can’t our PM of Nepal and the Indian PM sit together and talk? Why not Foreign Ministers of both countries and related officials sit together in their positions and talk about the problem? It must be solved. There is no alternative. We have to solve it through dialogue, friendly, peaceful means, and scientific methods.

WION: Why didn’t we see same level of reaction from the Nepali Political parties when Chinese encroached into Nepalese territories like in the case with India?

Former PM Khanal: Nepal and China had already fixed their borders in the 1960s with a treaty. There is no problem on the border with China. And if there is any problem, a committee can be formed to solve the issue. But with India, the border has not been fixed. The situation in India is different. Both the governments of India and Nepal should now fix the border scientifically.

WION: So, you are saying there is no border issue between Nepal and China?

Former PM Khanal: No, there is no problem with China. We have some problems in the western part of Nepal, but they should be solved through consultation because the 1962 treaty border has been fixed. If there is some encroachment from either side, it should be fixed through consolation, negotiation, meeting, diplomatic etc. But the situation with India is a little different. Now India and Nepal's governments should hurry up to fix the border scientifically. That is the need of the time. It is the 21st century, but our border hasn't been fixed yet. It’s a problem, a shame for Indians and Nepalese as well.