Monday's cabinet meeting passed a map of Nepal covering 335 square kilometers of land, including Limbiyadhura, encroached by India, which is positive in itself. But this is not the complete achievement.
Now only the map has come, not the encroached land. The present decision can be considered as the starting point of the efforts made for that.
In the context of India issuing a new map six months ago, including Nepali territory within its borders, it is important for Nepal to produce its own complete and pure map. It means not only politically and technically, but also emotionally. In order to implement it in the country, a proposal to amend the constitution should be taken to the parliament and passed immediately to change the target of the constitution.
This map should be included in government documents and curricula of educational institutions. Although this work is meaningful for internal confidence, the main issue is to send India back from the encroached land. The work that needs to be done for that is still effective homework and a diplomatic initiative that will bring results.
Against the backdrop of India still wanting to keep the matter as it is and showing indifference accordingly, it is now necessary for the country's political leadership to take decisive leadership.
It seems that the special phase of the dispute over the territories including Limpiyadhura, Lipulek and Kalapani, which have been under Indian control for decades, has just begun. For some reason, the Panchayat rulers did not raise this issue earlier. Although this issue was introduced in the diplomacy between the two countries during the democratic period after 2046 BS, it could not become a special issue.
As a result of Nepal's inability to raise it continuously, India's interest in the territory has increased. Five years ago, New Delhi and Beijing secretly agreed to make Lipulek a bilateral trade hub, but now India has inaugurated a motorway to China through the same territory. Due to the diplomatic incompetence of Nepal and the reluctance or helplessness of the political leadership here, India has been able to occupy Nepali territory in such a confident, uninterrupted manner. Due to the recent developments and the constant vigilance of the people at home, this issue seems to have taken a step forward.
Probably because it has its hands down based on the evidence, India has not yet shown interest in concrete talks on the Limpiadhura-Kalapani issue. Its international image is not being tarnished by a regional power aspiring to become a world power, forcing its neighbors to cross the border and not wanting to resolve the dispute through negotiations.
During the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Nepal in 2014, the two countries agreed to resolve the border issue through talks, but no progress has been made. After Delhi last issued a new political map, Nepal has twice offered a date for secretary-level talks, but has not responded. India cannot run away from such talks on its own bilateral disputes.
If India tries to avoid negotiations, the door is always open for Nepal to take this issue internationally. However, the Indian leadership should embrace Nepal's positive attitude of seeking to resolve the issue through bilateral talks without resorting to that option at the outset. Not only the government of India, but also other political forces and citizens of India should pay attention to this, the Nepali side also needs to lobby with them. Independence and sovereignty are not small or large, no matter how small or large the country's geography, population and strategic-economic power.
Though the Ministry of External Affairs has issued a statement urging the Indian government not to move ahead with the construction of the road, Delhi has claimed that it has built the road on its own soil. Contrary to the political tradition there, Indian Army Chief Manoj Mukunda Narawane has seriously accused Nepal of opposing the construction of Pithoragarh-Lipupek road at the behest of someone else. Such a statement is objectionable, but it should not affect bilateral relations and dialogue. Recently, India has replied that talks can be held after the transition of Kovid-19. Although physical talks can be done after a transition, there is no reason to delay the launch of virtual dialogue in preparation. If there is any obstacle in that, it is only the political will of both the countries. As Nepal is in trouble, Kathmandu should take the initiative and Delhi should not act as if it has not listened.
Nepal should put the issue of resolving all border disputes and current issues with India on the primary agenda of bilateral diplomacy and move the talks forward. Discussions at the Foreign Ministry level may be necessary for the preparation, but given the seriousness of the issue, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli should take the initiative. Prime Minister Oli should take the initiative to hold decisive talks with his Indian counterpart Modi on the issue to stop Indian activities in the region and eventually bring back the land. And, for a proper result, you have to sit at the negotiating table firmly putting your ground-pieces of evidence.
According to most of the historical bases, evidences and documents available, including the Sugauli Treaty of 1816, there is no doubt that the Kalapani area of the Mahakali River is Nepali territory. The western boundary between Nepal and India is separated by the Mahakali, which is the source of the river Limpiyadhura.
Comments
Post a Comment