Nepal has handed over a diplomatic note to Indian Ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra.

According to the Ministry Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali had handed over the diplomatic note to Ambassador Kwatra on Monday, while expressing displeasure over the construction of a road link via the disputed land of Lipulekh.

The ministry had summoned Kwatra on Monday morning.

“Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali conveyed the government of Nepal's position on boundary issues to Ambassador of India to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra at a meeting held at the Foreign Ministry today and handed over a diplomatic note in this regard,” reads a short note issued by the ministry.

The diplomatic note follows a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday objecting to India’s move of opening a road link to Lipulekh.

According to sources, the Foreign Ministry has also sought diplomatic talks to resolve boundary issues at the earliest possible dates at Foreign Secretary level talks.

Since November, when Indian included Kalapani within its borders in its new political map released in line with New Delhi’s decision to split Jammu and Kashmir, Nepal has sought dates for talks to resolve outstanding boundary issues twice.

The Foreign Ministry in its Saturday statement reiterated that the government of Nepal twice proposed dates for a meeting of the foreign secretaries of the two countries, as mandated by their leaders.

“It is still awaiting a response from India,” said the ministry.

Hours later, India on Saturday evening had issued a statement in response to Nepal’s Foreign Ministry statement, saying “both sides are also in the process of scheduling Foreign Secretary level talks which will be held once the dates are finalised between the two sides after the two societies and governments have successfully dealt with the challenge of Covid-19 emergency.”

Nepal, however, is now pushing for an earlier date for talks.

Earlier on Monday morning also, Foreign Minister Gyawali said that Nepal cannot wait for the Covid-19 crisis to be over to hold talks with India.

“We are ready for talks at any level with India–at the prime minister level or foreign secretary level,” Gyawali told the International Relations Committee of Parliament.

Gyawali also said that Nepal will hold talks with China after India.

“Nepal, India and China are yet to ascertain the tri-junction in Lipulekh,” Gyawal told the committee. “ So after talks with India, we will hold talks with China as well.”