Even after four and a half years of the release of the Chukche map, the government has not informed the two neighboring countries, including China and India, and the United Nations.
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The government has not yet formally sent the new map covering Lipulek-Kalapani-Limpiyadhura area to the international world. Even after four and a half years of the release of the new Chukche map, the government has not informed the two neighboring countries including China and India as well as the United Nations through diplomatic channels.
The Council of Ministers had passed a new political and administrative map covering Lipulek-Kalapani-Limpiyadhura on 5th June 2077 . It was made public on May 7, and the Parliament amended the constitution on May 31 and updated the stamp. The Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation has written to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 9th June 2077 to inform the Nepali Embassy abroad along with the international community about the new Chuchhe map. But it has not been implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The then foreign minister, NP Saud, told the international relations and tourism committee of the parliament on August 21 last year that the record of sending information to the international community about the new map was not found in the ministry. Since then, it has been found that there is no diplomatic correspondence to inform about the new map.
Chairman of the International Relations Committee, Rajkishore Yadav, said that the matter of the new map has not been worked in an institutional and serious manner. "When the map was released, we had a discussion with Pradeep Gyawali, who was the minister of foreign affairs, and NP Saud, who was the minister last year," he said Yadav made a comment that seemed consumed.
After the release of the new map, the then foreign minister Gyawali called the diplomats and gave a briefing about it. He also claims that official information about the map has been given in some places. But its records are not in the ministry.
A former foreign minister considers Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's indifference as a factor in the lack of internationalization of the new map. "When the new map was released, it was the government led by Oli". Even after that, Oli was the prime minister for a long time. "Due to his indifference, the map was not sent to the international world," he said.
A former secretary of foreign affairs says that before the release of the map, diplomatic correspondence was sent to India with the claim that Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulek are the land of Nepal. "That's why it is not considered necessary to send a new map there," he said. The ex-secretary also said that it did not seem like it was sent to China either.' "Even when China or India issue a map, they have not sent a map to Nepal," he said.
On the fourth day after the new map was passed by the Council of Ministers on May 5, 2077, the Ministry of Land Management
sent a letter
to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to inform the Nepali Embassy abroad along with the international community, but it was not implemented.
In the 'Standard Map of China' published by China on August 28, 2023 (August 11 last year), Lipulek, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura are shown on the Indian side. After that, Nepal did not inform the international world including China about the new map. At the same time, this issue was also raised in the parliament. After the recent agreement between China and India to open the Mansarovar Yatra, the subject of the map has come to the surface again.
He also commented that the ban on the distribution of the book 'Study material on Nepal's terrain and borders' published in 2077 by the Ministry of Education with the new map was also linked to the reluctance of the Oli government. At that time, the government banned the distribution of the book because various ministries commented that the words used in the book were not in accordance with diplomatic standards and there were errors in areas and other matters.
The fact that the state does not internationalize the new map that has reached the claim and evidence and has been placed in the constitution is a diplomatic
weakness. – Bishnuraj Upreti, Frontiersman
The former secretary did not want to give a formal response saying that the issue of the map is sensitive and the government's opinion on it should be considered official. "Regarding the question raised by the Mansarovar trip agreement, Nepal should negotiate with China," he said, "It seems that China has repeatedly ignored Nepal's concerns." There was an agreement between the Prime Minister. On May 14, 2015, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China, it was agreed to increase trade through the Lipulek border . Point no. of the joint statement issued by the two countries on May 15. The said agreement was mentioned on 28 . Nepal immediately objected to the agreement. Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi have agreed to restart the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra on December 18. Even though Lipulek crossing is not written in it, as India has given priority to Mansarovar Yatra through Lipulek, it has been suspected that the same crossing is about to be opened .
A former secretary of foreign affairs says that when a country issues a new map, it is not customary to send it to the international community or the United Nations, even when China or India issue a map, they do not send the map to Nepal.
India released a map in the first week of November 2019 keeping Lipulek, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura areas within the Indian border . The road from Pithoragarh to Lipulek was also inaugurated. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had sent a diplomatic note to India objecting to that matter. But India did not listen to it. After that, Nepal released a new map covering the area up to Limpiyadhura. The area under the new map has been controlled by India for decades.
Boundary expert Bishnuraj Upreti calls the state's failure to internationalize the new map, which has been claimed and evidenced and placed in the constitution, a diplomatic weakness. "We have sufficient grounds and evidence." This issue should be raised continuously, the government is failing in diplomatic initiatives, he said, adding that the agreement reached between China and India last time should not be viewed in a general way. It should be stated that we are concerned about it.' Upreti was the coordinator of the expert group formed by the government on May 22, 2077 for the collection of evidence related to the border after the release of the new map.
While China and India are trying to move forward by improving their mutual relations, Upreti says that Nepal should raise its own issues. "China and India are finding a way to solve the problem and go for long-term cooperation," he said, "the last agreement between the two countries is not complete." They seem to be moving forward strategically. The western border of Nepal is important for us. But it is normal for them . It is not enough to just look at what is written, our interest must be expressed in it.''
