NEW DELHI: Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has reaffirmed Nepal’s sovereignty over Lipulekh and Kalapani, stating that neighboring powers cannot make independent agreements over these regions without Kathmandu’s consent.

Speaking in New Delhi on the final day of his official visit to India, Khanal noted that Nepal has consistently sent diplomatic notes to both New Delhi and Beijing asserting its historical territorial rights.

Khanal clarified that Nepal seeks to resolve boundary disputes strictly through bilateral dialogue, explicitly ruling out international mediation.

Addressing speculations regarding Prime Minister Balen Shah’s remarks about the United Kingdom, he explained that Nepal is merely accessing historical archives in UK museums to gather evidence related to the 1816 Sugauli Treaty.

“We wish to sit at the table and resolve these disputes through diplomatic processes,” Khanal said, emphasizing that researching records is standard preparation for table talks, not third-party intervention.

Representing a new, two-month-old administration, Khanal stated that Nepal’s younger leadership is uniquely positioned to handle long-standing issues because it is “completely free from the baggage of the past.”

While complex matters like the joint submission of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) report and the Agnipath Gorkha recruitment deadlock remain unresolved, Khanal emphasized that Nepal is ready for structured talks to transform itself from a traditional “buffer state” into a “vibrant economic bridge” between India and China.