No place for external mediation in India-Nepal border matters: MEA

India on Tuesday said that there is no role for any third parties in a bilateral matter between India and Nepal and the two countries have established bilateral mechanisms to deal with all aspects of boundary mattersResponding to queries during the regular media briefing Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said there are cases of crossborder occupation in demarcated segments of the boundary which are being mapped jointlyWe have seen the remarks of the Prime Minister of Nepal concerning India IndiaNepal boundary as well as the subsequent statement made by the Nepali foreign office on this matter While close to 98 per cent of the IndiaNepali boundary has been demarcated there are some unresolved segments The shifting of the Gandak River has resulted in this In addition there are cases of crossborder occupation and encroachment of no mans land in demarcated segments of the boundary which are currently being mapped jointly he saidWe 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 he addedThe Spokesperson was responding to a query about Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah reportedly suggesting that UK and China should be involved in discussions on border issues The Nepal PM had also said that his country remains committed to resolve boundary issues with India through talksJaiswal further said that issues such as crossborder occupation and encroachment in already demarcated nomans land areas have been identified in some segments which are currently being jointly mapped and verified by both sidesPolitical parties in Nepal have slammed Balendra Shahs controversial remarks about Nepal also encroaching Indian territory Nepal Foreign Ministry had subsequently issued a clarification over his remarksNepal Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Paudel Kshetri said the Prime Ministers comments refer to issues related to boundary pillars nomans land dashgaja and crossborder land usageHe explained that based on technical studies there are areas where land currently used by Nepal may fall on the Indian side and vice versaNepal Foreign Ministry said the government remains committed to resolving boundary issues through diplomatic dialogue based on historical treaties maps and agreementsJaiswal last month responded to media queries regarding comments made by the Foreign Ministry of Nepal on the border issue in the context of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and said Indias position in this regard had been consistent and clearLipulekh Pass has been a long standing route for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra since 1954 and the Yatra through this route has been going on for decades This is not a new development As regards territorial claims India has consistently maintained that such claims are neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence Such unilateral artificial enlargement of territorial claims is untenable Jaiswal saidIndia remains open to a constructive interaction with Nepal on all issues in the bilateral relationship including on resolving agreed outstanding boundary issues through dialogue and diplomacy he addedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever