-Mahendra Gautam

Historic brotherly relationship between Nepal and India is heading towards huge diplomatic pandemonium since Indian Defense Minister Mr. Rajnath SingInagurated the road from Dharchula to Kalapani keeping Indian Army Chief and high ranked security personnel by his side. It became high voltage issue because the road that India is constructing falls under Nepal’s territory and the presence of dignitaries on the occasion is unconventional. Nepal easily apprehended the gravity of the event that India, knowing very well that the territory belongs to Nepal is using deterrence against any possible retaliation from the host. It was a kind of threat imposed by India with clear message that it is ready to take any step to defend encroachment if any obstacle comes in the process. It was threat of war in reality. 

The issue got heated in such a way even at the time of lockdown and pandemic, civilians came out in the street in protest. Protest was so spontaneous with participants from different social status. Issue reached to the International Relation Committee of the parliament and the government officials like Land Management Minister, Foreign Minister and even Prime Minister of Nepal had to come front to address it in the media and in parliament. But the way they took the issue in the beginning created huge anguish in public as Land Management Minister’s irresponsible statement, “the area is not in the map of Nepal since 2032″ augmented public protest. Foreign Minister’s statement,” government knew the issue since 2008″ exposed the leadership capacity and intellectuality of communist government covered with nationalism. Even the Prime Minister’s statement of possible lease grant provoked agitation against the government. However, Prime Minister Oli not only corrected himself but came with strong statement against India and his way of condemning their evil intension assertively has brought strong enthusiasm in the country. Though his assertion seems very short- lived due to delay on constitution amendment.

Nepal – India border dispute is not newly emerged phenomena, it bears long history. Both countries share almost 1800 Kilometers border in east, west and south, and there are more than 54 disputed areas waiting for appropriate resolution. Border demarcation took place after the Sugauli Treaty 1816 held between Nepal and British India. Total 913 pillars were placed between the countries with 58 rivers border. The present most hyped dispute of Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipulek fall under the river border where the Kali River originated from Limpiyadhura was declared as the border line. Political map of both the countries were published accordingly. The Kali River is seen on the political map of both the countries locating it in Nepal’s territory(Though India corrected the map on 22 may 2020 suddenly). However, India’s claim on the land without evidences is utter nonsense.

Border dispute on Kalapani started from 1969 after the end of China- India war 1962. Nepal being a close friend of India helped it by providing space to keep 18 Indian army camps for its security during the war. After the end of that war, the relevance of deploying Indian army in Nepal’s territory lost and Nepal asked India to take their army back. From 1969-70 India returned all the camps except Kalapani. Nepal was pressurizing the Indian government to take army back from Kalapani but untimely death of King Mahendra caused delay on the process. Later, due to the political havoc, the issue could not get proper gravity and remained under shadow. Many diplomatic attempts were made on the course but India acted dumb. After the restoration of democracy political instability in Nepal helped India to deepen its root in Kalapani. Indo- centric political leadership never raised authentically the Kalapani issue in bilateral forums.  Again India played the Maoist Card (Indian General said on an Indian T.V. on 20th May 2020 in a debate program) to create more turmoil in Nepali politics. Finally, with the establishment of Republic, national sovereignty became the weakest ever in the history of Nepal. Seizing the moment, India inaugurated the road demonstrating threat against any possible retaliation from Nepal.

Lipulek Dispute has slight longer historical base than Kalapani though it came in limelight quite late. During the decades of 1950s China and India were thinking about opening trade routes between two countries for trade expansion. Lipulake was on their proposed route along five others. 1962 China- India war completely changed the political scenario until when in 1990s both countries again discussed the issue bypassing Nepal on the process. That was an attack against Nepal’s sovereignty by both the neighbours. In 2005, China and India signed secret agreement to open trade route from Lipulek at prime Ministerial level. The signatories were Ben Ziabao and Manmohan Singh. In 2015, India and China formally signed the agreement. Nepal government sent very formal and customary letter to India and China without strong statement against the agreement. Finally, after the inauguration of road, Nepali politics has heated again. 

Though news of border encroachment kept coming time and again Nepal always pretended indifferent. No government had seriousness regarding the protection of the Land. Accordingly, no striking attempt regarding the border issue has been taken. India kept interfering in almost every political development and change either the case of dissolving first elected government of B.P. koirala, restoration of democracy, Maoist insurgency or establishment of Republic. Nepali politics kept dancing in Indian music where as India continuously attacked Nepal’s sovereignty. Nepali leaders of different political parties keep visiting Indian embassy to request for power and position (BhojrajPokhrelNepal Vote for Peace.p142).

The effect started to be seen in Nepal’s policy making; citizenship scandal is one of the examples of it. Corruption in politics weaken the country. Day came when Limpiyadhura, kalapaniLipulake could not fit themselves with in the map of Nepal even in emblems. Textbooks got changed map. The Joint Border Regulation committee paralyzed and border pillars started to disappear overnight. India established security check posts, built infrastructures even encroaching Nepali territory. Civilian kept opposing India and lost their life but not the government from Kathmandu ever paid attention on it. In 2008, Dr.BaburamBhattarai gave a contradictory statement on border issue. He said, “If borders cannot be managed, better merge two countries”. It was completely irresponsible statement by any individual leading the government of a sovereign nation.

History shows there are numerous diplomatic weaknesses of Nepal in border issue. After the decade of 1970s, Nepal could not follow upkalapani dispute diplomatically. InLipulek Agreement between China and India, Nepal did nothing except sending a diplomatic note and never presented the issue strongly in international forums. Government could have formed Special Task Force to sit on dialogue with India but never felt the need of it. Politicians always came with irresponsible statements. Nepal’s diplomatic practice became so weak that even a bureaucrat of representing nation could meet anybody at any time without approval of Foreign Ministry. It was just a naked dance against diplomatic norms and culture. The result, Nepal now is in the weakest position to defend its sovereignty.

Way ahead

Publication of new map based on Sugauli Treaty is no doubt a positive step taken by the government of Nepal. Constitution amendment must take place in no time though it is not going ahead strongly. Blame game between government and opposition party needs an end. India strongly opposed Nepal’s move regarding map. Their policy can be either of the three or all of them. One, they will try to impose military threat to deter Nepal. In that case, Nepal should respond with great patience and follow diplomatic norms unlike Indian army chief Narvane. Second, they can emotionally blackmail with the issues like religious proximity, ethnic proximity and brotherly relation. Nepal can respond positively to those emotional issues but never give up raising the issue of sovereignty. Third, they will be trying to delay the issue pretending disinterestedness and continuously work for destroying national unity and even evidences related the issue. India is ignoring Nepal whereas with China it is sitting for dialogue. It is their policy to prove the issue insignificant. Nepal should be thinking about taking the issue consciously and aggressively through diplomatic channels.

Special Task Force can be formed for negotiation. Taking stand on SugauliTraety, 1816 as base of evidence in dialogue is only way ahead. Evidences related to census and land tax should be presented in support of Sugauli Treaty. The map sent to United Nation at the time of membership application can be very strong evidence in the international forum. To pressurize more in the future Nepal can slightly oppose the visit culture, ignore army’s symbolic ceremonial head culture, increase border check posts in border areas, Keep raising border issues in each and every bilateral and international forums, keep talking about revisiting 1950s Peace and Friendship Treaty, Weapons purchase from the country except India. There is no alternative of bilateral talk regarding the issue. Both the country must consider the historical, cultural and ethnic proximity before taking any harder step. Time has come to check the true feeling of nationalism among all the political parties especially of the present government.