Nepal’s Border Dispute Takes a Sharp Turn as PM Balendra Shah Says Encroachment Happened on Both Sides

Nepal's long-running border dispute with India has entered a fresh phase after Prime Minister Balendra Shah told the House of Representatives that Nepal has also encroached on Indian land in several places. The remarks came during a parliamentary session on Sunday, where he said he only learned of the issue after taking office and stressed that the government wants to resolve all border problems through diplomacy.

According to the reports, Shah was responding to questions from lawmaker Aren Rai about border tensions and territorial claims. He said the administration remains committed to addressing disputes involving Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani through dialogue between the two countries.

A rare acknowledgment in a sensitive dispute

The statement is notable because public discussion of the Nepal-India border has usually centered on Nepali claims that Indian forces or authorities have encroached on Nepali territory. Independent background reporting has long noted that the border is disputed in areas such as Kalapani and Susta, with competing claims on both sides.

In the broader context of the dispute, the India-Nepal border has been described as an open international boundary, but one that includes multiple unresolved territorial disagreements. Reports cited in the search results say the Kalapani area remains one of the most sensitive flashpoints, while Susta is another long-standing point of contention.

What Shah said about the government's approach

Shah's message was less about escalation and more about process. He framed the issue as something to be handled through diplomatic dialogue, signaling that his government does not want the border question to become a rhetorical or political standoff.

That posture matters because land disputes between Nepal and India tend to stir strong public sentiment. Any admission that Nepal has also encroached on Indian land is likely to attract scrutiny in Kathmandu, especially from lawmakers and nationalist voices who typically focus on Nepal's territorial claims.

Why this matters now

The remarks could shape how the next round of border talks is framed. Instead of treating the dispute as a one-sided grievance, Shah appears to be positioning it as a bilateral problem that requires mutual recognition, patient negotiation, and clear documentation.

The sources also reflect how contested and politically loaded the border issue remains. Historical reporting has documented alleged encroachment claims on both sides, and earlier coverage has shown that even old newspaper clips about land occupation can resurface and fuel confusion or controversy.

The bigger picture

For Nepal, the immediate challenge is balancing national sovereignty concerns with the practical need to keep ties with India stable. For India, any renewed discussion of border boundaries will likely be watched closely, especially in relation to the strategic Himalayan areas of Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani.

What Shah's statement makes clear is that the government sees the dispute as unresolved, but not unmanageable. The preferred path, at least for now, is negotiation rather than confrontation.