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India-Nepal Relationship

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May 29, 2020

What is the issue?

  • Due to the Kalapani issue, there is a tension between India and Nepal.
  • The relation between the two countries needs a fundamental reset.

Where is Kalapani?

  • It is a patch of land near the India-Nepal border.
  • It is so close to the Lipulekh Pass on the India-China border.
  • [Lipulekh pass is one of the approved points for border trade and the route for the Kailash-Mansarovar yatra in Tibet]

What is the Kalapani dispute?

  • India inherited the boundary with Nepal, established between Nepal and the East India Company in the Treaty of Sugauli in 1816.
  • The territory to the east of the Kali River was decided as Nepal.
  • The dispute relates to the origin of Kali.
  • Near Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district, there is a confluence of streams coming from Kalapani (north-east) and Limpiyadhura (north-west).
  • During British period - The early British survey maps identified the north-west stream, Kuti Yangti, from Limpiyadhura as the origin.
  • But after 1857, it changed the alignment to Lipu Gad, and in 1879 to Pankha Gad, the north-east streams.
  • Thus, the British survey maps defined the origin as just below Kalapani.
  • Nepal accepted the change and India inherited this boundary in 1947.
  • After Indian independence - The Maoist revolution in China in 1949, followed by the takeover of Tibet, created deep misgivings in Nepal.
  • India was invited to set up 18 border posts along the Nepal-Tibet border.
  • The westernmost post was at Tinkar Pass, about 6 km east of Lipulekh.
  • By 1969, India had withdrawn its border posts from Nepali territory.
  • The base camp for Lipulekh remained at Kalapani.
  • In their respective maps, both countries showed Kalapani as the origin of Kali river and as part of their territory.
  • The issue of the origin of Kali river was first raised in 1997.
  • Boundary Committee - The matter was referred to the Joint Technical Level Boundary Committee that had been set up in 1981.
  • In 2008, the Committee clarified 98% of the boundary, leaving behind the unresolved issues of Kalapani and Susta (in the Terai).
  • It was subsequently agreed that the matter would be discussed at the Foreign Secretary level.
  • Meanwhile, the project to convert the 80-km track from Ghatibagar to Lipulekh into a road began in 2009 without any objections from Nepal.

What is the issue with the maps?

  • India’s map - India issued a political map (8th edition) on November 2, 2019, to reflect the change in the status of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Nepal registered a protest though the map in no way had changed the boundary between India and Nepal.
  • However, on November 8, the ninth edition was issued.
  • The delineation remained identical but the name Kali river had been deleted.
  • This led to stronger protests, with Nepal invoking Foreign Secretary-level talks to resolve issues.
  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh did a virtual inauguration of the 80-km road on May 8, 2020, which re-erupted the Kalapani controversy.
  • This re-eruption provided Mr. Oli with a political lifeline.
  • Nepal’s map - Nepali Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli is using the Nepali nationalism card, the flip side of which is anti-Indianism.
  • A new map of Nepal was notified on May 20, which was based on the older British survey.
  • This map reflects Kali river originating from Limpiyadhura in the north-west of Garbyang.
  • The new alignment adds 335 sq km to Nepali territory.

What is the reality?

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi has often spoken of the “neighbourhood first” policy.
  • He started with a highly successful visit to Nepal in August 2014.
  • But the relationship took a nosedive in 2015 when India first got blamed for interfering in the Constitution-drafting in Nepal.
  • It reinforced the notion that Nepali nationalism and anti-Indianism were two sides of the same coin that Mr. Oli exploited successfully.
  • The reality is that India has ignored the changing political narrative in Nepal for far too long.
  • India remained content that its interests were safeguarded by quiet diplomacy even when Nepali leaders adopted anti-Indian postures.
  • For too long India has invoked a “special relationship”, based on shared culture, language and religion, to anchor its ties with Nepal.
  • Today, this term carries a negative connotation - that of a paternalistic India that is often insensitive.

What is needed?                                                       

  • The complexity underlying India-Nepal issues cannot be solved by unilateral map-making exercises.
  • Political maturity is needed to find creative solutions that can be mutually acceptable.
  • The urgent need is to pause the rhetoric on territorial nationalism.
  • A quiet dialogue is needed, where both sides need to display sensitivity as they explore the terms of a reset of the “special relationship”.
  • A normal relationship where India can be a generous partner will be a better foundation for “neighbourhood first” in the 21st century.

 

Source: The Hindu

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