India Reaffirms Stance on Boundary Dispute with Nepal
On June 3, 2026, the Indian government responded firmly to Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s recent comments regarding a boundary dispute between the two nations. In a speech to the Nepalese parliament, Prime Minister Shah called for the involvement of China and the UK to help resolve this long-standing issue. However, India has made it clear that it prefers to handle matters through direct dialogue without any third-party intervention.
Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, addressed the situation, stating, “We have taken note of the Prime Minister of Nepal’s comments about the India-Nepal boundary.” He noted that while almost 98% of the boundary has been demarcated, certain segments remain unresolved, particularly due to shifts in the Gandak River’s course.
Jaiswal added, “There are also instances of cross-border occupation and encroachments in areas that have already been mapped.” He reiterated that India and Nepal have established mechanisms to address all boundary-related matters, emphasizing that it’s important everyone understands that the issue is strictly bilateral.
In his speech, PM Shah acknowledged reports of Nepalese territories encroaching into India, which sparked controversy. Later, Nepal’s Foreign Ministry clarified that his remarks were about encroachments of no-man’s land and cross-border occupations, not new territorial claims.
This boundary dispute has been ongoing, particularly regarding the regions of Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani. India asserts these territories belong to Uttarakhand and stresses the importance of resolving the issue through bilateral discussions.
