Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: India has said that there was no role for any third parties in the Nepal-India border matter.
India’s external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jasiwal made the comment during his regular weekly press briefing on Tuesday.
He was referring to Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s statement in the House of Representatives regarding Indian occupation of the Kalapani-Lipulek region on Sunday that Nepal would take up the matter with the United Kingdom, as the origins of the dispute date back to the era of British India. PM Shah also said in the House that Nepal had also encroached on Indian land.
“We have seen the remarks of the Prime Minister of Nepal concerning the India-Nepal boundary as well as the subsequent statement issued by the Nepali foreign ministry on this matter,” Jaiswal said. “We have established bilateral mechanisms to deal with all aspects of boundary matters. It should be clear to all concerned that there is no role for any third parties in a bilateral matter between India and Nepal.”
Jaiswal also said that while close to 98% of the India-Nepal boundary has been demarcated, there are some unresolved segments. “The shifting of the course of the Gandak (Narayani) River has resulted in this situation. In addition, there are cases of cross-border occupation and encroachment of No-Man’s land in demarcated segments of the boundary which are currently being mapped jointly,” he added.
