KATHMANDU, July 29: Nepal has asked Dharchula local administration of India not to bar the Nepali authorities from entering Gunji, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura.

In a response to a letter received from Dharcula local administration of the Indian State of Uttarakhand, Darchula District Administration of Nepal reminded that Nepali people have every right to enter the aforementioned territories which fall within Nepal's boundaries. As per the Sugauli Treaty these three territories which lie east of Kali River fall within Nepal's boundaries.

In his letter, Chief District Officer of Darchula, Sarad Kumar Pokharel asked the Dharchula local administration of India not to bar the Nepali authorities from entering Gunji, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura.

Earlier, in its letter the Dharchula administration of India had objected to the entry of Nepalis into Gunji, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura areas calling it illegal.

Gunji, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura areas have long been illegally occupied by India. The correspondence from local administration of India's Uttarakhanda State to Nepali administration explicitly reiterates the Indian government's stance on Kalapani not to pull back its military forces from Kalapani area while undermining Nepal's sovereignty and territorial integrity, experts say.

Despite Nepal's repeated calls for dialogue on the long-standing border disputes including Kalapani and Susta, India has been non-committal to the matter.

The letter from the Indian local administration to Nepali local administration came amid souring ties between Nepal and India after India unilaterally constructed a strategic road via Lipu Lekh, a Nepali territory, in May 2020. Nepal sent a diplomatic note asking India for holding dialogue. However, India has not responded to Nepal's call.

 
• Kalapani
 
• Nepal-India_border
 
• Lipulelekh