Nepal Airlines Apologizes for Misrepresentation of Indian Territories

Nepal Airlines Issues Apology

On Thursday, Nepal Airlines extended an apology for inaccurately depicting Indian territories on its map. The airline clarified that the map does not reflect the official stance of either Nepal or the airline itself.

The airline stated that it has removed the post due to 'map-related errors' that do not represent the official position of Nepal or the airline. In a statement on social media, the airline expressed, "We sincerely apologize for the mistake in the network map shared on our social media channels recently. This map contained significant inaccuracies regarding international borders that do not align with the official stance of Nepal or Nepal Airlines. We have promptly deleted the post and are conducting an internal investigation to ensure that our content maintains the highest level of accuracy. We value our strong relationships with our neighbors and friends in the region and deeply regret any offense caused by this post."

Historical Context of Territorial Disputes

A similar controversy arose on May 15, 2020, when then-President Bidhya Devi Bhandari announced that Nepal would release a new map incorporating all its territories, including Limpiyadhura, Kalapani, and Lipulekh. These areas are disputed between India and Nepal. Last year, New Delhi published a new map that included Kalapani within its borders, which Kathmandu opposed.

Nepal shares an open border of 1,800 kilometers with India. The country has consistently maintained its position that, according to the Sugauli Treaty, "all areas east of the Kali River, including Limpiyadhura, Kalapani, and Lipulekh, belong to Nepal."

Nepal claims the Lipulekh Pass based on the 1816 Sugauli Treaty, which was established with British colonial rulers and defined Nepal's western boundary with India.

Kathmandu also asserts its claim over strategically significant areas like Limpiyadhura and Kalapani, although Indian troops have been stationed in these regions since the Sino-Indian War of 1962.

Recent Developments

On May 8, 2020, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a new road connecting the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand to the Kailash Mansarovar route in China. Following the inauguration of this road, Nepal expressed its opposition and is now considering establishing a security post in the area.