Nepal UK
NEW DELHI, INDIA – After a six-year break, the seventh meeting of the Boundary Working Group (BWG) between Nepal and India commenced in New Delhi on Monday. The high-level talks aim to review past progress and outline a future roadmap for managing their shared border, excluding the long-standing disputed territories of Susta and Kalapani.
The Nepali delegation is led by Prakash Joshi, Director General at the Department of Survey, while Hitesh Kumar S Makwana, Surveyor General, heads the Indian delegation. A Nepali participant noted the significance of the meeting, emphasizing a review of past achievements and an assessment of remaining tasks outlined in their terms of reference.
The BWG, a crucial bilateral mechanism, is mandated to construct, restore, and repair boundary pillars, clear no-man's land, and undertake various other technical tasks along the border. The current meeting, set to conclude on Tuesday, is expected to establish a clear plan to finalise the boundary work originally agreed upon by both nations in 2014.
The BWG was formed in 2014 during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Nepal. At that time, both sides agreed that while the BWG would handle technical boundary work, the sensitive disputes over Susta and Kalapani would be specifically addressed by the foreign secretaries of Nepal and India, with assistance from the BWG.
The BWG succeeded the Nepal-India Joint Technical Committee, established in 1981, which played a vital role in scientifically mapping the border. By 2007, this committee had produced 182 boundary maps using GPS technology, deliberately excluding the disputed areas of Susta in Nawalparasi West and Kalapani in Darchula. Following the committee's dissolution in 2007, the BWG was created to continue these technical responsibilities.
Delays and Current Objectives: Earlier, the fifth BWG meeting in 2018 had set an ambitious four-year timeline, aiming to complete bilateral boundary work by 2022. However, this deadline was missed due to several factors, including the global Covid-19 pandemic and a significant map dispute between Nepal and India that emerged after 2019-20.
Despite these setbacks, officials are optimistic. "We are trying to forge a similar kind of consensus which we reached in 2018," stated a Nepali participant, indicating a renewed push for progress.
The current BWG meeting has a comprehensive agenda. It aims to prepare a blueprint for all remaining boundary work, compile data on properties owned by citizens on either side of the border, and address the maintenance and installation of boundary pillars. Official data from Nepal’s Department of Survey indicates that out of 8,554 installed boundary pillars, 1,325 are currently missing and 1,956 are either partially or fully damaged. The group will also work on installing GPS facilities and resolving boundary issues in areas where river courses have shifted over time.
Over the past six years, during the BWG's hiatus, the Armed Police Force of Nepal and India’s Sashastra Seema Bal have carried out temporary maintenance of these pillars. The BWG is supported by two key mechanisms: the Survey Officials’ Committee and the Joint Field Survey Teams, which provide technical expertise and operate on the ground.
Discussions on the first day included a review of progress since the last meeting and talks about resuming crucial fieldwork, including boundary inspections, maintenance, and the installation of new pillars as per the BWG's mandate. The meeting also involves representatives from various ministries, including foreign affairs, home affairs, defence, law, and land management, along with experts and officials from the Armed Police Force.
With renewed dialogue, both nations seek to solidify their shared border and address pending technical tasks.
