Dahal stresses on trilateral talks to resolve Lipulekh dispute

KATHMANDU, May 10: Nepal Communist Party Executive Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has stressed on trilateral talks to resolve the border disputes including Lipu Lekh, which has boiled again after India inaugurated a link road connecting Kailash Mansoravar which passes through Nepali territory Lipulekh.

The Himalayan pass lies at a tri-junction among Nepal, India and Tibet. Nepal has laid claim to the Southern pass.

After the inauguration of the link road from Darchula to Lipulekh, the Defense Ministry of India established the pass as China’s border. The project first began officially in 2008 and was expedited in 2014.

India and China, during the Indian prime ministers’ official state visit to India in 2015, had reached an understanding to open a trading post in Lipu Lekh.

“The issue has become trilateral now which involves three countries. Talking to India alone cannot resolve the problem. China should be involved in the talks,” said Dahal during a meeting of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee in Parliament on Sunday.

Although Nepal has sought a date for Foreign Secretariat level diplomatic talks to resolve the border disputes, India has ignored Nepal Government’s call for long.

According to Dahal, it is time for serious action instead of making statements.

“Nepal should first make high-level diplomatic and political efforts to resolve border disputes. But if that does not bear fruit, Nepal should consider alternative measures rather than statements,” he said.