Context: Recently, Nepal Prime Minister pledged to retrieve the territories of Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh from India.

About the disputed region

• Both India and Nepal lay claim to Kalapani region.
• The Kalapani region derives its name from the river Kali.
• In Nepal, the river is known as Mahakali and it holds as much significance in Nepal as the Ganga river does in India.
• The river works as a natural border between India and Nepal.
• The source of the Kali river has been a point of dispute between India and Nepal.
• India states that Kalapani is in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand where the river originates from.
• Nepal alleges that the river originates either from Limpiyadhura or from Lipulekh and considers both the locations part of Nepal’s Sudurpaschim province.

Historical Background

• Under the Treaty of Sagauli (1816) signed between British East India Company and Nepal, the Kali river was marked as Nepal’s western boundary with India.
• It made no mention of ridgeline and the subsequent maps by the British surveyors showed the source of the Kali river at different places.
• This discrepancy has led to the boundary disputes between India and Nepal.
• Officially, Nepal brought the issue of Kalapani before India in 1998.

Recent Dispute

• Earlier in 2020, the Defense Minister of India had inaugurated a new link road from India to China to shorten the travel time for pilgrims to Kailash Man Sarovar via Lipulekh pass.
• The road starts from Dharchula in Uttarakhand to Lipulekh pass.
• It is being developed by Border Road Organization (BRO) and expected to be completed by December 2022.
• Nepal had protested strongly against this move by India and claimed that it is a breach of agreement reached between the PMs of India and Nepal in 2014 to work out on the outstanding boundary issues on Kalapani and Susta (West Champaran, Bihar).
• In response, the Nepal cabinet released a new map claiming both Kalapani and Susta regions as part of Nepal’s territory.
• India rejected the updated map of Nepal stating that the map is not based on historical facts and evidence.