Why and How Did the Dispute Begin?
According to the Sugauli Treaty, the land east of the Mahakali River belongs to Nepal, and the land west of the river belongs to India. Nepal asserts that the source of the Mahakali River originates from Limpiyadhura, while India claims the river starts from Kalapani.
Due to the ambiguity in the treaty itself and the lack of a clearly defined timeframe, India appears to have taken advantage of this vagueness to assert control over Lipulekh.
Historical Background: The Sugauli Treaty (1816)
After the Anglo–Nepal War (1814–16), the Sugauli Treaty was signed on March 4, 1816. It established Nepal's western boundary at the Mahakali River (also known as Kali River).
According to Article 5 of the treaty, the Mahakali River marks Nepal’s western boundary, and Nepal pledged not to claim any territory west of the river.
Unclear River Source and the Map Dispute
The treaty does not clearly specify the source of the river, which later gave rise to a border dispute.
Nepal claims that Limpiyadhura is the true source of the river, and therefore the areas of Limpiyadhura, Kalapani, and Lipulekh fall within Nepal's territory.
Although British maps before 1857 show Limpiyadhura as the river's source, maps from 1857–1881 allegedly shifted the border eastward. British cartographers began recognizing a smaller stream with more visible water flow near Kalapani as the river, deepening the dispute.
When Did the Dispute Begin? Political Sensitivity
Nepal formally raised the issue legally for the first time in 1998.
However, the presence of Indian military in the Kalapani region dates back to the 1962 China–India war, during which Nepal did not clearly protest.
The issue gained more public attention in the 1970s. For example, in 1973, Nepal’s Council of Ministers decided to conduct a detailed study of the border situation.
In 1998, the submission of a motion in Parliament and the formation of a joint task force turned the dispute into a nationalistic issue.
Modern Political Momentum and Competing Maps
In 2015, India and China agreed to open the Lipulekh Pass for trade, prompting strong protest from Nepal, as it was done without consultation and involved altering the border unilaterally.
In 2019, India released a new political map including Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura, further aggravating the situation.
In response, Nepal amended its Constitution in 2020 and released its own political map incorporating these territories, reinforcing national unity.
Root Causes and Present Strategic Complexity
Indirect Factors:
The treaty lacked clarity on the river’s east-west flow, giving both countries a basis for their claims.
Changes in maps especially by the British created confusion over the boundary.
The Kalapani, Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, Kuti Valley region is a tri-junction area (Nepal, India, China), making it strategically significant.
Direct Factors:
Nepal took constitutional and public initiatives to strengthen national unity.
India issued strategic maps and maintained close control over the Muslim-border areas.
A lack of mutual trust and Nepal's strengthening ties with China further complicate the balance of regional power.
Conclusion
The Nepal–India border dispute originated from the ambiguity in the Sugauli Treaty regarding the river’s source. The changes made in British-era maps added historical depth to the issue. Post-1990 democratic sensitivity and the political-diplomatic developments between 2015 and 2020 intensified the dispute.
Currently, the conflict is further complicated by political ambition, strategic integrity, competing map claims, and national unity narratives.
A long-term resolution lies in cooperative dialogue, analysis of historical documents, open consultation, and a neutral expert committee involving both Nepal and India.
- Prakash Dahal
Editor and Publisher
Prakash Dahal Online Services.
Gothswarko Serophero Online Newspaper.
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