Nepal Uncertain of Original 1816 Sugauli Treaty Papers Amid Border Dispute
Nepal's government has stated it cannot confirm possession of the original 1816 Sugauli Treaty documents. The uncertainty surfaces as border disputes with India over the Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura regions persist, with the treaty defining Nepal's western boundary.
Key takeaways
- Nepal's government has informed Parliament it cannot confirm the existence of the original 1816 Sugauli Treaty papers.
- The Sugauli Treaty is crucial for defining Nepal's border with India and is central to ongoing territorial disputes.
- Nepal claims Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura based on the treaty, while India disputes these claims.
- The uncertainty over the treaty's original documents arises amidst renewed border tensions and a recent India-China trade agreement at Lipulekh.
What Happened
Nepal's government has informed its Parliament that it cannot confirm whether it holds the original documents of the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli. This treaty originally defined the border between Nepal and British India. The foreign minister stated that while some treaty-related documents are held in the National Archives, their status as official originals remains unclear.
Why It Matters
The uncertainty surrounding the original treaty papers comes as border disputes between Nepal and India over the Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura territories remain unresolved. Nepal asserts these areas are its territory, a claim based on interpretations of the Sugauli Treaty, which designated the Kali River as Nepal's western boundary. India contests these claims, maintaining the areas are part of its Uttarakhand state. The recent agreement between India and China to reopen trade through Lipulekh has further heightened tensions, with Nepal objecting and asserting its territorial claims.
Background
The Sugauli Treaty is central to the long-standing border dispute. In 2020, Nepal published a new political map including the disputed areas, which India rejected. Nepal's Prime Minister Balen Shah recently stated that both Nepal and India had encroached on each other's land, though the foreign ministry clarified this referred to technical cross-border occupations and did not alter Nepal's stance on the disputed territories. India has stated that nearly 98% of the boundary is demarcated and has rejected Nepal's claims over Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura, as well as any third-party involvement in resolving bilateral issues. The search for the original treaty documents has been ongoing for years, with a parliamentary inquiry concluding in July that original copies of both the Sugauli Treaty and the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship could not be found.
Key Facts
- Nepal's government cannot confirm possession of the original 1816 Treaty of Sugauli papers.
- The treaty defined the boundary between Nepal and British India.
- The Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura regions are at the center of an ongoing border dispute between Nepal and India.
- Nepal bases its claims to these territories on interpretations of the Sugauli Treaty, which used the Kali River as the western boundary.
- India maintains that these areas are part of its Uttarakhand state.
- Nepal's foreign minister Shisir Khanal informed Parliament about the unclear status of the original treaty documents.
- India and China recently agreed to reopen trade through Lipulekh, a move opposed by Nepal.
- Nepal's Prime Minister Balen Shah stated that both nations had encroached on each other's land.
- India has stated that almost 98% of the India-Nepal border is demarcated.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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