MEA: No role for 3rd party to settle Nepal border row

NEW DELHI: After Nepal PM Balendra Shah sought UK’s intervention in the India-Nepal border dispute, the Indian govt Tuesday strongly rejected any third-party mediation on what it described as a bilateral issue. Speaking in Parliament on Sunday, Shah had said London should take an interest in resolving the dispute as it originated during the times of British rule.

“We have established bilateral mechanisms to deal with all aspects of boundary matters. It should be clear to all concerned there is no role for any third parties in a bilateral matter between India and Nepal,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, replying to media queries.

He said India had taken note of Shah’s remarks, in which he had said both India and Nepal had encroached on each other’s land, and the subsequent clarification by the Nepal foreign ministry.

“The shifting of Gandak river’s course has resulted in this situation. In addition, there are cases of cross-border occupation and encroachment of no man’s land in demarcated segments of the boundary which are currently being mapped jointly.”