Nepal India Security Talks

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said India would not let relations with Nepal deteriorate, even if it had to bow its head. He made the remarks in Dehradun while saying some forces were trying to disrupt Nepal-India ties.

Commentary on the talks said the Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani dispute remained unresolved despite repeated meetings and mechanisms. It said the issue would need higher-level political and diplomatic intervention.

Recent Nepal-India border meetings in Lucknow and Dehradun ended without a decision on Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, or Kalapani. Officials said the dispute was not on the agenda and would require higher-level political and diplomatic intervention.

Nepal and India agreed to increase surveillance in sensitive border areas using CCTV and other modern technology at the 14th Joint Working Group meeting in Dehradun. The talks also covered coordination on cross-border crime, trafficking, counterfeit currency, arms smuggling, disaster management and border infrastructure.

The 14th Nepal-India joint security and border-management meeting was underway in Dehradun. Nepal’s delegation was set to be led by Home Ministry joint secretary Anand Kafle, with discussions covering cross-border crime, arms and drug smuggling, counterfeit notes and border encroachment.

Nepal and India said they would hold the 14th Joint Working Group on Border Management meeting in Dehradun, with the agenda including smuggling, drug trafficking, counterfeit currency and illegal arms trade. The meeting would also review information sharing, border regulations and border infrastructure.

Nepal said it was searching for the original Sugauli Treaty and 1950 Peace and Friendship Treaty documents amid renewed pressure over the Lipulekh border dispute. Officials said they were contacting Britain to verify or obtain the records before further talks with India.

Nepal and India agreed to jointly survey border land occupied by citizens on both sides and submit a report within three years. The exercise was said to use technology and exclude Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani.

India said the missing original copy of the 1816 Sugauli Treaty could be handled through existing bilateral mechanisms. The issue was raised amid Nepal-India border tensions and continued claims around Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh.

Nepal said it could not confirm whether it has an official copy of the 1816 Sugauli Treaty that defined its boundary with British India. The statement came as border tensions with India rose after the Lipulekh trade route was reopened.