KATHMANDU: Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal today clarified in the federal parliament the views expressed by Prime Minister Balendra Shah during a question-and-answer session in the House of Representatives on May 31.

He also provided information on issues related to the Nepal–India border.

Minister Khanal clarified that PM Shah’s statement on Nepal-India border was related to ‘cross border occupation’. Nepal and India have intimate relations, he said, adding that government is committed to resolving two-country border issues via diplomatic channels on the basis of historic treaty, agreement and map.

He explained that as the two countries have open border for a long time, there are some cross holdings in no-man’s-land between Nepal and India and it was based on internal consensus. The locals from both countries on the border are using cross-border lands for cultivation. It was the very point PM Shah referred, Minister Khanal asserted.

“While responding to queries in parliament meeting, PM Shah mentioned the name of friendly country, the UK, which was directly related when the Sugauli Treaty was signed in 1816 that set Nepal’s boundary,” Minister Khanal stated in the clarification.

No third-country mediation

“Nepal is not seeking third-country mediation on border issues at all,” Khanal argued, adding, “The PM only signaled that Nepal could take help for any additional resources of that time.”