Efforts underway to resolve Nepal-India border issues: Foreign Affairs Minister

 Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud said that the Joint Boundary Working Group was working on the border issues between Nepal and India.

At a press meet organized by the Nepal Press Union, Dadeldhura in Dadeldhura today, Minister Saud shared that there were many agreements reached between Nepal and India on border-related matters other than Kalapani, Limpiyadhura, Lipulek, and Susta.

"Many agreements have been reached on the border except for Kalapani, Limpiyadhura, Lipulek, and Susta. During border mapping and demarcation of the borders in the past, some places of Nepal had come on the Indian side while some Indian side's places to the Nepal side," informed the Minister, adding that the Joint Boundary Working Group was working on it and the task was progressing on consent.

Stating that the government of Nepal was fully aware about its border and the land under its ownership, Minister Saud said that efforts were being made to resolve the border issue through talks, discussions and diplomatic initiatives.

On a different note, the Minister viewed that the Indian Minister for External Affairs Dr S. Jaishankar's recent visit to Nepal was meaningful, important and fruitful.

During his Indian counterpart's visit, agreements on various issues such as exporting 10,000 megawatts electricity within next 10 years, implementation of Pancheshwor Hydropower Project, bringing Indian grant amounting to Rs 10 billion for the quake-survivors of Jajarkot district among others, have been reached, Minister Saud said.

"The Indian Minister for External Affair's visit to Nepal was meaningful to take forward the both countries' relations."

Pancheshwor project has reached point of breakthrough

Meanwhile, he claimed that the Pancheshwor Multipurpose Project has reached the point of breakthrough point. According to him, preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the project had reached the final stage and the project's breakthrough was likely in few days.

Minister Saud argued that the construction of Pancheshwor project would be beneficial for the entire country, not only for Sudurpaschim folks, expressing the belief that the project would help create employment.

He further said number of youths going for overseas employment would decrease if construction of Pancheshwor, West Seti, Arun III and Upper Karnali hydropower projects could be forwarded.

The Foreign Affairs Minister shared that the government was effortful to release Bipin Joshi of Kanchanpur, who is under the captivity of Hamas in Israel.

"We have urged the Israeli government time and again for the release of Bipin. I have also requested the Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister of Qatar for the same," he mentioned.

Minister Saud expressed the belief that Bipin would be released during second ceasefire. The Foreign Affairs Minister clarified that those Nepalis who joined the Russian Army Force, were not recruited there after taking the permission of the government of Nepal.

He shared that 10 Nepalis lost their lives in Russia so far and diplomatic initiative was underway to bring the bodies to Nepal. "Apart from this, 133 families have requested that their family members have reached Russia and are at risk. So we have taking initiatives to make arrangement of their repatriation", explained Minister Saud.