The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday clarified that Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s remarks in Parliament about Nepal having encroached on Indian land were made in reference to cross-border land occupation and the use of land across the Nepal-India border, rather than any territorial claim.

The clarification came hours after Shah’s statement in the House of Representatives sparked controversy.

Responding to lawmakers’ questions in Parliament earlier on Sunday, Shah had said that after becoming prime minister he learned that “not only has India encroached on Nepal’s land, but Nepal has also encroached on India’s land in multiple places”.

In a statement, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri said the prime minister’s remarks were primarily related to encroachments in the no-man’s-land area along the border and what he described as “cross-border occupation”.

“The issue mentioned by the prime minister in Parliament is essentially related to encroachment in the Dasgaja area [no-man’s land] and cross-border occupation,” the ministry said.

According to the ministry, the Nepal-India boundary in riverine areas was demarcated using the fixed boundary principle, resulting in situations where citizens of one country cultivate land or reside on territory that falls within the other country’s jurisdiction.

The ministry said studies conducted by a technical committee had shown that some land currently being used and occupied by Nepal could fall on the Indian side of the boundary, while some land currently used and occupied by India could fall on the Nepali side.

“The prime minister’s statement in Parliament that in some places Indian land may be on the Nepali side is linked to this technical reality and the issue of cross-border occupation,” the statement said.

The clarification follows criticism and debate triggered by Shah’s parliamentary remarks, which some interpreted as an acknowledgement of Nepali encroachment on Indian territory.

During the same parliamentary session, Shah had also said that Nepal and India should discuss border-related issues jointly and reiterated that disputes involving Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani would be resolved through diplomatic dialogue.