Introduction
- The India-Nepal relationship is characterized by strong friendship and cooperation, underpinned by an open border and deep-rooted family and cultural ties.
- Nepal shares a border of more than 1850 kilometers with five Indian states: Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
- The two countries engage in extensive defense cooperation.
- India’s development assistance to Nepal focuses on grassroots infrastructure projects in areas such as health, water resources, education, and rural and community development.
- Cooperation in water resources, especially involving common rivers, is a critical aspect of their bilateral relationship.
Since 1971, India and Nepal have had a Power Exchange Agreement to meet power requirements along their borders by utilizing each other’s transmission facilities.
Body
Territorial Dispute: The dispute involves a 372-square-kilometer area comprising Limpiadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani at the India-Nepal-China trijunction in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district. Nepal claims these lands based on historical evidence.
Genesis of the Issue:
- Treaty of Sugauli: The Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814-16 ended with the Treaty of Sugauli, where Nepal ceded land to the East India Company. Article 5 of the treaty stripped Nepal’s rulers of sovereignty over the territory east of the Kali River.
- British Maps: Maps by the British Surveyor General of India in 1819, 1821, 1827, and 1856 depicted the Kali River as originating near Limpiadhura.
- Map Discrepancies: A map issued in 1879 used the local name “Kuti Yangti” for the river. However, the last British map before their departure in 1947 showed the Kali River’s origin near Limpiadhura.
- Village Census: According to historian Buddhi Narayan Shrestha, villages like Gunji, Nabhi, Kuti, and Kalapani (Tulsi Nyurang and Nabhidang) were part of the Nepalese census until 1962, with villagers paying land revenue to Kathmandu. The situation changed during the 1962 India-China conflict.
Conclusion
- The India-Nepal relationship is multifaceted, encompassing strong cultural ties, defense cooperation, and collaborative development projects.
- The territorial dispute over the 372-square-kilometer area remains a significant challenge, rooted in historical treaties and map discrepancies.
- Resolving this dispute requires diplomatic negotiations, historical clarifications, and a commitment to maintaining the longstanding friendship between the two nations. This will ensure continued cooperation and mutual benefit in various sectors, strengthening the bond between India and Nepal.
Legacy Editor Changed status to publish August 8, 2024