Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: Minister for Foreign Affairs Shishir Khanal has clarified that the issue raised by Prime Minister Balendra Shah in the parliament on May 30 was related to ‘cross-border occupation’.

Taking time from the Speaker in today’s meeting of the House of Representatives, PM Oli said the government was committed to resolving the border issues through diplomatic talks on the basis of the historic treaties, agreements and maps as per the letter and spirit of the close ties between Nepal and India.

He said that the Prime Minister was referring to the situation of ‘cross-holding’ around some of the Nepal-India border areas which have been open for centuries and the locals on the Nepali side have been engaged in farming across the border despite the internal agreement.

Foreign Minister Gyawali while replying to the issue relating to Nepal’s boundary had mentioned the name of a friendly country the United Kingdom as Nepal’s border demarcation was directly related to the Sugauli Treaty of 1816. “We are not seeking mediation by a third party in this regard”, the Foreign Minister said, adding that the additional reference material of the then situation could naturally be helpful in resolving the problem. ”