Nepal Govt issues clarification as opposition accuses PM of weakening Nepal’s position on border disputes with India
Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah has found himself at the centre of a political controversy after suggesting that Nepal may have also encroached on Indian territory, a statement that sparked uproar in Parliament and drew criticism from opposition leaders, diplomats and foreign policy experts.
Speaking during his first address to Parliament since assuming office, Shah referred to the long-running border dispute involving Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani, and said both Nepal and India should rely on historians, surveyors and subject experts to resolve the issue. He also indicated that Nepal had raised border-related concerns with China and the United Kingdom.
Nepal’s parliament descends into chaos as opposition parties demand PM Balendra Shah retract or prove his claim that Nepal has encroached on Indian territory; MPs say it undermines national interests. pic.twitter.com/o8FQk2CXfd
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) June 1, 2026
His remarks marked a departure from Nepal’s traditional position, which has largely focused on allegations of Indian encroachment into Nepali territory. Opposition lawmakers immediately objected, demanding that Shah either provide evidence for his claim or withdraw the statement from the parliamentary record.
The comments triggered heated exchanges in Parliament, with several MPs arguing that the Prime Minister’s statement weakened Nepal’s long-standing stance on the border dispute and could undermine future negotiations with India.
Former Nepal ambassadors to India, including Nilambara Acharya and Deep Kumar Upadhyay, publicly questioned the basis of Shah’s claim. They noted that no official records or studies have documented Nepal as having encroached upon Indian territory and warned against making unsupported assertions on sensitive diplomatic matters.
As criticism mounted, Nepal’s government sought to clarify the Prime Minister’s remarks. The Foreign Ministry stated that Shah was referring to instances of cross-border occupation and encroachment within the no-man’s land along the India-Nepal border, rather than any formal territorial claim by the Nepali state.
According to the ministry, shifting river boundaries and missing border pillars have led to situations where citizens from both countries cultivate or occupy land that technically falls across the border. It stressed that Nepal’s official position on disputed areas such as Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani remains unchanged and that all unresolved issues will continue to be addressed through diplomatic dialogue with India.
The ministry further noted that technical committees from both countries are actively engaged in repairing border pillars, addressing encroachments in no-man’s land areas and documenting cases of cross-border occupation.
India has consistently maintained that the disputed territories are part of Uttarakhand and has reiterated that any outstanding border issues should be resolved through bilateral discussions.
The controversy has placed Shah under increasing pressure, with opposition parties continuing to demand either evidence supporting his remarks or a formal retraction. The issue has also ignited widespread debate on social media, where many users and analysts have criticised the statement as diplomatically damaging and politically avoidable.
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