Govt clarifies PM Shah’s remarks on Nepal-India border issue

KATHMANDU: The government has clarified that Prime Minister Balen Shah did not state in Parliament that Nepal had encroached on Indian territory, saying his remarks were misinterpreted.

Addressing concerns raised over the Prime Minister’s statement during Sunday’s House of Representatives meeting, government spokesperson and Minister for Education and Sports Sasmit Pokharel said Shah was referring to claims and issues discussed within existing border dispute mechanisms, not asserting that Nepal had occupied Indian land.

Speaking to journalists at Singha Durbar on Tuesday, Pokharel explained that Nepal and India have long-established mechanisms to address border disputes and that such matters should be resolved through diplomatic dialogue and mutual consultations.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already provided the necessary briefing. There are established mechanisms between Nepal and India to resolve border issues, and the Prime Minister has clearly expressed his position on how such disputes should be settled,” Pokharel said.

He noted that diplomatic notes are regularly exchanged between the two countries and emphasized that border disagreements should be addressed through dialogue rather than controversy.

According to the spokesperson, the Prime Minister’s remarks were intended to highlight issues raised during bilateral discussions, including claims that certain areas currently used by India may fall within Nepal’s territory and vice versa. He stressed that such matters should be resolved through mutual understanding and established diplomatic channels.

Pokharel also urged the public and media to revisit the full context of the Prime Minister’s parliamentary statement before drawing conclusions.

Meanwhile, the government reaffirmed that Prime Minister Shah remains fully accountable to both the government and Parliament.

Pokharel stated that the Prime Minister had recently responded to lawmakers’ questions in the House and is prepared to appear again if further clarification is required.

“The Prime Minister is accountable to Parliament. He has already answered questions in the House and will do so again whenever necessary,” he said.

The government reiterated that both Nepal and India are committed to resolving border disputes through diplomatic engagement, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continuing to facilitate the necessary processes under existing bilateral understandings.