Indian army chief Naravane hints at foreign involvement over Nepal's Lipulekh issue

Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Friday hinted at foreign involvement with Nepal raking the Lipulekh issue even as Nepal said it will publish new maps showing the territory among others as part of its own.

Army Chief speaking at a think tank IDSA's online meet said, "I do not know exactly what they are exactly agitating about. Never been a problem in the past, reasons to believe they might have raised these problems, issues at the behest of someone else and there is very much a possibility."

While names have not been taken, Chinese increased involvement in the country is something that is well known. Nepal claims Lipulekh which is at the tri-junction of China, India and Nepal and is part of Indian territory. Meanwhile, Nepali President addressing the joint session of the Parliament said new maps of the country will be published that will show all areas it considers disputed and is under Indian territory.

Nepal President Bidhya Devi Bhandari said, "Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani region are Nepal's territory and concrete diplomatic efforts will be taken towards reclaiming these territories. An official map of Nepal will be published accordingly incorporating all the territories of Nepal."

Elaborating Nepali government's approach, Bhandari explained that the "government of Nepal is committed to safeguarding the international borders of Nepal" and "Outstanding border disputes with India will be resolved through diplomatic medium relying on available historical treaties, maps, facts and evidences."

Kathmandu raised the chorus over the issue last week when India inaugurated a new road from Dharchula to Lipulekh that will reduce the time taken for Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage. The ongoing dispute is not new and dates back to 1816 when under the Treaty of Sugauli, King of Nepal lost parts of its territory to British including Kalapani and Lipulekh.