India-Nepal border dispute heats up again: What did Nepal's PM say and what does it mean?

The Lead

Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah has reignited a border dispute with India after claiming in parliament that Nepal has also encroached on Indian territory – a departure from Nepal's usual stance, which has largely focused on accusing its bigger neighbour of occupying its land.

Shah's Comments on Kalapani-Lipulekh

“You will be surprised to know a fact that I have learned recently, only after becoming prime minister: Not only has India encroached Nepali territory, but Nepal has also encroached Indian territory in many places,” Shah said during his address to parliament.

He did not elaborate on which parts of India he believed Nepal had encroached on.

The Data Analysis

• The long-running dispute between Nepal and India over border territories including Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani has periodically bubbled up over the years.
• The conflict is a mix of contested history, geography, politics and mapping.

The Impact Analysis

India responded on Tuesday, saying it has bilateral mechanisms in place with Nepal to resolve issues of disputed territory.

Dinesh Paudel, a professor in sustainable development at the North Carolina-based Appalachian State University, told Al Jazeera that Shah's mention of British intervention “will not go well with India”.

The Prediction

Despite this friction, Paudel said Shah's remarks would not substantially impact Nepal's relationship with India or China.

“India is trying to learn how to deal with Balen and his government,” he said, referring to Shah – who is popularly known as Balen, a shorter version of his first name.