KATHMANDU, May 12: Group 25+, a civil society group of eminent Nepalis, has urged the Government of Nepal to keep calling India to hold bilateral talks to settle the territorial disputes arising between the two countries in the Lipulekh area.
The Indian government on Friday inaugurated a strategic link road built to connect Mansarovar of Tibetan Autonomous Region of China and Dharchula of India for local trading and pilgrimage.
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After this unilateral move by India, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal has been calling on India to hold bilateral talks to settle the dispute in a diplomatic manner but the Indian government has been ignoring the call.
Issuing a press release on Tuesday, Group 25+ accused the Indian government of turning its “Neighbourhood First” policy into “Neighbourhood Occupation First” and urged both neighbouring countries to hold diplomatic talks and settle the dispute in a peaceful manner.
The Group also suggested to the Nepal government to raise a clear and consistent voice on its sovereign ownership of territories currently under the Indian occupation at the UN, regional and bilateral forums as well.