Facts
about Kaali River, Limpiyadhura & Lipulekh
-
Ranadhoj Limbu, Jan 17, 2016- The Kathmandu Post
• Unless
Nepal’s international boundaries are well defined it will be exploited by its
neigbours
Nepali
political leaders never had the moral courage to confidently articulate their
views in front of the international community. Nepal remained silent to several
India-China joint statements on Lipulekh Pass
I have posted this research based article "Drawing lines" to
familiarise you once again with the history of the fundamental problems of
Nepal's NW border.
Drawing lines (Article)
Historical documents testify that two of the fundamental aims that drove
British India to invade Nepal in 1814 were to ensure free access to Tibetan
markets and a secure boundary with Nepal. As Nepal lost the war, the British
imposed the Sugauli Treaty of 1816 on Nepal, which among other points, defined
the Kalee River as the western border between Nepal and India. However, the
Treaty was not accompanied with maps clearly delineating the boundaries.
Nevertheless, various maps published by the British immediately after 1816 and
before 1856 clearly indicate that the Kalee River originates from Limpiyadhura.
The British probably realised immediately after signing the treaty that if the
river is taken as the international boundary, its traders cannot have free
access to Tibetan markets through some of the important Himalayan passes
including Lipulekh Pass. This could have been the major reason that the British
changed, gradually and systematically, the name of the actual Kalee River to
Kuti River or Kuti Yangti and named one of the tributaries originating from
Lipulekh Pass as Kalee River. This is what the different maps published by the
British after 1856 indicate in general. Indeed, various contradictory schools
of thoughts prevail regarding the identification of the Kalee River defined in
the Sugauli Treaty as the boundary between India and Nepal.
Different views
One school of thought believes that Kalee River defined by the Sugauli Treaty
originates from Limpiyadhura Pass. In general, almost all the pre-1879 maps
published by the British India and findings of hydrological survey support this
viewpoint. Even some of the maps published after 1879 support this viewpoint.
Local people of the villages in the region—Gunji, Nabhi, and Kuti—located by
the side of this river, call it ‘Kuti Yangti’, which also means Kalee River in
the local dialect. Moreover, the holy Parbati Kunda is situated by the side of
this river, suggesting that this river is the actual Kalee River. And,
according to the internationally accepted principle of hydrology, the main
river is differentiated from its tributaries by the following essential
characteristics: (a) it is the longest in length, (b) it has bigger catchment
area and more tributaries than others, and (c) it contains more quantity of
water than other tributaries. Thus, it means the river originating from
Limpiyadhura Pass is the Kalee River outlined in Sugalui Treaty. According to
this viewpoint, Nepal-India-China border tri-junction falls on Limpiyadhura
Pass.
A second school of thought believes that the Lipu Khola that originates from
Lipulekh Pass is the actual Kalee River. Some of the post-1856 maps, and mostly
those published after 1879, support this line of thought. The map published by
the Nepal government after Nepal-China Border Treaty of 1961 also supports this
viewpoint. This viewpoint runs against the principle and findings of
hydrological survey, according to which the river emerging from Lipulekh Pass
is only one of the small tributaries of the actual Kalee River coming down from
Limpiyadhura Pass. Nepal-India-China border tri-junction point, as per this
viewpoint, falls on Lipulekh Pass, and Kalapani is included within the
territory of Nepal, though Limpiyadhura area (335 sq km) is excluded.
A third school of thought that is also supported by the Indian establishment
argues that the Kalee River originates from the vicinity of Kalapani, the
original name of which is Tulsinurang. A few maps including the one published
by the British in 1879 support this argument. According to this viewpoint, the
northwest border of Nepal happens to be the border from Kalapani area to Tinker
Pass. But this argument is totally against the Sugauli Treaty, which
categorically says that Nepal’s western border consists of a river not land. If
this viewpoint is accepted, Nepal-India-China tri-junction point will fall in
the vicinity of Tinker Pass and both Kalapani and Lipulekh Pass (60 sq km), as
well as Limpiyadhura area, will be excluded from the territory of Nepal.
Not yet resolved
The fact of the matter is that there is no other treaty between Nepal and
British India or Independent India that supersedes the Sugauli Treaty of 1816,
which clearly defines Kalee River as the western border of Nepal. Moreover, the
locations of the tri-junction points can be finalised only with the consent of
all the three countries involved—Nepal, India, and China. Further, as per the
international convention, the tri-junction point is marked by the pillar number
zero. Till now the border pillars along the Nepal-China border have been marked
by pillar one (at Tinker Bhanjyang) in the west to 79 (at Chabukala Bhanjyng)
in the east. Pillar Number Zeros i.e. tri-junction points on Nepal-China-India
remain to be marked.
Nepali political leaders never had the moral courage to confidently articulate
the first school of thought in front of the international community. Though
Nepal government had been half-heartedly trying to follow the second school of
thought, it remained silent and indifferent to several India-China joint
statements regarding the use of Lipulekh Pass as a common trade and pilgrimage
passage.
For the one billion Indian Hindus, Lipulekh Pass (altitude -17500 ft) provides
the shortest land route to Kailash—Mansarowar via the Tibetan town of Taklakot
(12674ft). And distances from Lipulekh Pass to Kalapani (11696 ft) and to
Taklakot is almost the same (approximately 18.5 kilometer). Moreover, light
vehicle road-head on the Chinese side is only one kilometer from the Lipulekh
Pass and travelling from there is comparatively much easier. Further, a sizable
Chinese military force is stationed at Taklakot, which itself is strategically
located on the High Way (Silk Road) leading to Central Asia in the west and to
mainland China in the east. Lipulekh Pass is, therefore, vitally important for
India for several reasons. However, it is very difficult for India to sustain
Lipulekh Pass operationally and logistically without occupying Kalapani.
The issue of Nepal’s border thus remains complex and ‘India-locked’ Nepal seems
to have very limited options. Further, Nepal must realise the fact that as long
as its international boundary remains ill-defined, un-demarcated and unsecured,
there is always the possibility of further manipulation and exploitation by the
neighbours. Indeed, lingering dispute on the border in the past has led to
irreparable losses for Nepal. Nepal should, therefore, give highest priority to
the demarcation of the border and secure it with security forces, where
required. The sooner it is done, the better. What is required is a sincere
intention and will.
Limbu is a former Nepal Army Officer
January 17, 2016
