Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, issued a press release raising concerns over India’s ‘unilateral’ decision to construct a road that passes through Nepali territory.
In its statement, it had noted that the unilateral act of India went against the understanding reached between the 2 counties including at the level of the Prime Ministers, that a solution to the boundary issues would be worked out through negotiations.
Nepal bases its claims on the Sugauli Treaty of 1816 that says that all territories to the east of Mahakali river that includes Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura belong to Nepal.
However, the Government of India has refuted Nepal’s concerns saying that the road going through Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district lies completely within the territory of India. Mr. Anurag Srivastava, Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) mentioned on Saturday that “The road follows the pre-existing route used by the pilgrims of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra”.
He added that the boundary delineation exercise with Nepal is an ongoing matter and expressed India’s commitment to resolving outstanding boundary issues through diplomatic channels and in the spirit of maintaining friendly relations with Nepal.
India, on Friday inaugurated the link road to Kailash-Mansarovar that stretches from Ghatiabagarh and terminates at Lipulekh Pass, the gateway to Kailash-Mansarovar. It is located at a height of 17,060 ft and was constructed by the Border Roads Organization.