India-Nepal: Kalapani Issue

Kalapani Issue — Rakesh Sood (Former Diplomat)

• Kalapani, a patch of land near the India­Nepal border, close to the Lipulekh Pass on the India­ China border, which is one of the approved points for border trade and the route for the Kailash­Man­ sarovar yatra in Tibet.
• India inherited the boundary with Nepal, established between Nepal and the East India Company in the Treaty of Sugauli in 1816. Kali river constituted the boundary, and the territory to its east was Nepal. The dispute relates to the origin of Kali.
• The early British survey maps identified the north­west stream, Kuti Yangti, from Limpiyadhura as the origin, but after 1857 changed the alignment to Lipu Gad, and in 1879 to Pankha Gad, the north­east streams, thus defining the origin as just below Kalapani. Nepal ac­cepted it.
• The Maoist revolution in China in 1949, followed by the takeover of Tibet, created deep misgivings in Nepal, and India was ‘invited’ to set up 18 border posts along the Nepal­Tibet border. The western­ most post was at Tinkar Pass, about 6 km further east of Lipu­ lekh.

After the 1996 Treaty of Maha­ kali (Kali river is also called Maha­ kali/Sarada further downstream) that envisaged the Pancheshwar multipurpose hydel project, the is­ sue of the origin of Kali river was first raised in 1997. The matter was referred to the Joint Technical Le­ vel Boundary Committee that had been set up in 1981 to re­identify and replace the old and damaged boundary pillars along the India­ Nepal border. The Committee clar­ ified 98% of the boundary, leaving behind the unresolved issues of Kalapani and Susta (in the Terai) when it was dissolved in 2008. It was subsequently agreed that the matter would be discussed at the Foreign Secretary level.

• Mr. Oli had won the election in 2017 by flaunting his Nepali na­tionalism card, the flip side of which is anti­-Indianism. This is not a new phenomenon but has be­ come more pronounced in recent years. A new map of Nepal based on the older British survey reflecting Kali river originating from Limpi­ yadhura in the north­west of Gar­byang was adopted by parliament and notified on May 20. On May 22, a constitutional amendment proposal was tabled to include it in a relevant Schedule. The new alignment adds 335 sq km to Nepa­li territory, territory that has never been reflected in a Nepali map for nearly 170 years. 
• The relationship took a nosedive in 2015 when India first got blamed for interfering in the Constitution ­drafting in Nepal and then for an “unofficial block­ade” that generated widespread resentment against the country. It reinforced the notion that Nepali nationalism and anti­-Indianism were two sides of the same coin that Mr. Oli exploited successfully.

China is pur­suing a more assertive foreign pol­ icy and considers Nepal an impor­tant element in its growing South Asian footprint. 

The reality is that India has ig­ nored the changing political narra­ tive in Nepal for far too long. India remained content that its interests were safeguarded by quiet diplo­ macy even when Nepali leaders publicly adopted anti­Indian pos­ tures — an approach adopted de­ cades earlier during the monarchy and then followed by the political parties as a means of demonstrat­ ing nationalist credentials. Long ignored by India, it has spawned distortions in Nepali history text­ books and led to long­term nega­ tive consequences. For too long In­ dia has invoked a “special relationship”, based on shared culture, language and religion, to anchor its ties with Nepal. Today, this term carries a negative conno­ tation — that of a paternalistic In­ dia that is often insensitive and, worse still, a bully.

Complexity underlying India­Ne­ pal issues that cannot be solved by rhetoric or unilateral map­making exercises. Political maturity is needed to find creative solutions that can be mutually acceptable. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has often spoken of the “neighbour­ hood first” policy. He started with a highly successful visit to Nepal in August 2014.

The urgent need today is to pause the rhetoric on territorial nationalism and lay the ground­ work for a quiet dialogue where both sides need to display sensitiv­ ity as they explore the terms of a reset of the “special relationship”. A normal relationship where India can be a generous partner will be a better foundation for “neighbour­ hood first” in the 21st century.

To read full article visit — https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/for-a-reset-in-india-nepal-relations/article31697691.ece