SOURCE: TIMES NOW
At a time when the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has a lot on its plate, New Delhi should move quickly to resolve the territorial dispute with Nepal over Kalapani. In the second term of the Modi government, the NDA government has taken a series of heavy-duty decisions in quick succession. The two critical ones, in the form of new legislations, are ending the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, and the Citizenship Amendment Act.
The latter, in particular, has led to critical coverage in the international media and accusations of an anti-Muslim bias, with even some senior members of the US Congress questioning the intention behind the law, which provides for fast-track citizenship to non-Muslims from three neighbouring countries including Bangladesh.
If media reports are to be believed, there is concern in Dhaka too, both at the Act itself and the political rhetoric surrounding it emanating out of India. So far, the official response from Bangladesh, a friendly country, has been muted. But the Modi government will have to tread with caution.
Nepal is another friendly neighbour, with deep political, social, economic and religious ties with India. However, since Nepal is a much smaller but proud nation, any step taken by India which has a direct or indirect bearing on Nepal, can have an impact that is bigger than possibly anticipated by New Delhi.
It is in this context that the Modi administration needs to look at the controversy surrounding the Kalapani issue, and address it accordingly.
What is the Kalapani row all about?
Kalapani is claimed by both India and Nepal. While India considers it to be part of Pithoragarh district in the state of Uttarakhand, for Nepal, the 35 square kilometre area is a part of Darchula district.
While this is an old territorial dispute, it has gained traction in recent weeks after New Delhi released a new map of India in the aftermath of the Reorganisation of J&K Act 2019 that showed PoK in the newly-formed Union Territory of J&K. The new map also shows Kalapani in India. India’s foreign ministry has clarified that the new map “has in no manner, revised our boundary with Nepal”.
However, Nepal’s ambassador to India Nilambar Acharya told the Times of India that the disputed area belongs to Nepal and the issue must be addressed soon to avoid irritants in bilateral relations.
Meanwhile, Nepal’s Supreme Court has sought the ‘original’ map of the country that was exchanged with India when the 1816 Sugauli Treaty was signed, after a plea was filed asking the court to intervene to secure Nepal’s territory.
The Modi government will also be mindful of the fact that in recent years, there have been some mass protests in Nepal aimed at decisions taken by New Delhi — even as China is trying to ramp up its investments in Nepal.
These are all very good reasons for New Delhi to agree with Acharya – and reach out to Kathmandu to resolve the Kalapani row before it snowballs into something bigger.
from Indian Defence Research Wing https://ift.tt/2QIhtxo
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