India- Nepal Dispute
Context:
The Government of Nepal plans to issue a new Rs-100 currency note featuring territories claimed by both Nepal and India, including areas like Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura, which are under Indian control.
Relevance:
GS-02 (International Relations)
Key Highlights:
Historical Dispute:
- Both India and Nepal claim ownership of Kalapani region, stemming from a historical discrepancy regarding the source of the Kali River.
- The Kalapani Region got its name from the Kali River. This river is named as Mahakali in the Nepal region.
- This river is a natural border between India and Nepal.
- The dispute over Kalapani dates back to the Treaty of Sagauli (1816) but came to the forefront in 2020 with Nepal’s objections to India’s infrastructure projects near the border.
Differing Perspectives on the Origin and Ownership of Kalapani:
- Nepal asserts that the Kali River springs from Limpiyadhura, northwest of Lipu Lekh, placing Kalapani, Limpiyadhura, and Lipu Lekh within Nepal’s Dharchula district. Lipulekh was intentionally omitted from Nepal’s map in exchange for favors from India by previous rulers. King Mahendra offered Kalapani to India after the 1962 India-China war to address Indian security concerns, temporarily granting India access. This territory wasn’t initially part of the Nepal-India dispute but rather Nepal’s land that the king permitted India to use. The recent map reflects a historical document used in Nepal until the 1950s.
- India contends that the Kali River originates below the Lipu-lekh pass, not from Limpiyadhura, as claimed by Nepal. The Sugauli Treaty doesn’t delineate the area north of these springs. Nineteenth-century administrative and revenue records indicate that Kalapani was under Indian jurisdiction, forming part of Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand.
Recent Tensions:
- Inauguration of a new road by India sparked protests from Nepal, leading to a breakdown in communication.
- Nepal responded by passing a Constitutional Amendment Bill to alter its map, adding disputed territories.
- Nepal’s decision to include disputed territories on its currency note has drawn sharp criticism from India, leading to concerns about further escalation.
