Indo-Nepal Trijunctional Border Tussle

There is no denying the fact that since time immemorial India and Nepal have shared a deep-rooted relation based not only on diplomatic theatre but on mutual trust and friendship. This relation has tasted the bitterness of border dispute over a period of time. To understand the present dispute of 2020 it is important to have a glimpse of the Treaty of Sugauli (1816) that demarcated the boundary of Nepal between the two rivers- Sharda River in Uttarakhand better known as Kali or Mahakali River in Nepal on the west and Mechi River on the east (Mechi meets Mahananda River in Kisanjung, Bihar). Before this treaty i.e. before Anglo-Nepalese war the boundary included Garhwal and Kumaon region of present-day Uttarakhand in the west and Sikkim in the east; thereby the boundary lies between two rivers Satluj in the west to Teesta in the east. Furthermore, the terai region in the south was also said to be within Nepal’s boundary. This historical event changed the geography of India’s landlocked neighbour.

The present dispute is regarding approximately 400 sq. km. trijunction. Nepal raised objections when the Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 80km link road in May that passes through Lipulekh situated in this trijunction. This road aims at easing the journey of pilgrims visiting Mansarovar, in the absence of this connectivity Kailas Mansarovar yatra followed the route via Nathula pass in Sikkim through rugged terrain and extreme climatic conditions. With this thought, BRO or Border Road Organisation constructed an 80km long road from Kalapani to Lipulekh. This road is in the trijunction which created a dispute between the two countries. The trijunction is formed because the river that marks the boundary in the west is a tributary of three rivers namely- Limpiadora in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, Kalapani, and Lipulekh. The entire dispute is based on the origin of the Mahakali River.

When the current conflict broke out between China and India in Sikkim and Ladakh, Nepal came up with a new map claiming the area of Lipulekh. Within a short span of time, India witnessed a double shock of Chinese activities and approval of a new political map in the Nepalese parliament. With the approval of the new map, Nepali soldiers were deployed in the region; this discord claimed the lives of some which created a worrisome atmosphere in an otherwise friendly bilateral India-Nepal relations. India continues to assist Nepal even amid this pandemic, she has gifted hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol to Nepal to combat the disaster. The remark that India is spreading Coronavirus in Nepal and Indian Corona is more lethal than any other country, left a bitter taste.

This perhaps occurred because the Communist Party of Nepal is aligned to its counterpart in China. Nepal has already acknowledged the consequences of the border dispute in the 2015 blockade. In this backdrop, it is suggested that Nepal should understand the vitality of diplomatic dialogue and not fall prey to the dragon. This route and region are of strategic importance to India because it not only reduces the distance to Mansarovar but would also help to contain China. It has the potential to answer China in terms of military, nurture trade in the future, and provide religious trekking.

Binita Kumari, Adjunct Researcher, AGA

Junior Research Fellow, MAKAIAS.