Former Ambassador Acharya Questions: What Is the Purpose of Visits If Border Issues Are Not Raised?

Member of the Nepal-India Eminent Persons Group and former Nepali Ambassador to India Nilamber Acharya has raised serious questions regarding two recent visits to the southern neighbor. He questioned why Nepal’s key border issues were not raised during the recent India visits of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane and Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal.

Commenting on social media, Acharya stated that while the two important visits should be viewed positively, there was no public discussion on the issues of Limpiyadhura, Kalapani, Lipulekh, and the Indian encroachment at Susta, which Nepal has consistently raised. He wrote, “Such visits are a good thing. The warm welcome received by Rabi and the Foreign Minister is also positive. But the issues that Nepal has been raising and must raise — Limpiyadhura, Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Indian encroachment at Susta — were not raised during either visit.”

The former ambassador remarked that the leadership appeared hesitant to speak on issues that concern the public and have even been debated in parliament, expressing the view that such matters should be discussed openly between friendly nations.

RASWAPA Chairman Lamichhane traveled to India last Monday. After high-level political meetings in New Delhi, he visited Ayodhya where he offered prayers at the Ram Temple before returning home on Friday. Foreign Minister Khanal also arrived in New Delhi on Friday. Former Ambassador Acharya’s comments come amid a lack of public information regarding any discussion on border disputes with India during the two leaders’ visits.