Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has said Nepal’s political map covering the disputed territories of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura represents a shared national commitment.

Khanal made the remarks during Tuesday’s meeting of the House of Representatives, responding to questions over his recent comments during his visit to India that the current government did not have any ‘old baggage’ in its bilateral engagement with New Delhi.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Sita Thapaliya asked Khanal to clarify his reference to ‘old baggage’ during his India visit and whether it referred to decisions taken by previous governments, including the constitutional amendment endorsing the map covering Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura.

She also asked what mistakes had been made in the foreign policies of previous governments and what the minister and Foreign Ministry’s position was on them.

In response, Khanal said the current government did not regard past decisions on issues of national interest as a burden.

“The political map of Nepal covering Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura, and the constitutional amendment endorsing it, were unanimously approved by Parliament and represent a shared national commitment of the Nepali people,” he said. “They are our constitutional and sovereign documents and cannot be regarded as a burden under any circumstances.”

Khanal said safeguarding Nepal’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, national unity, self-reliance, borders and national dignity was a fundamental and permanent responsibility of any government.

He said the government was fully committed to conducting foreign policy with Nepal’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security and long-term national interests at its core.

Khanal also said Nepal had always accorded high priority to its relations with neighbouring and friendly countries, adding that high-level visits played an important role in strengthening bilateral ties.

Khanal said the government wanted to strengthen ties with neighbouring and friendly countries while addressing outstanding differences through dialogue and cooperation.

“The current government wants to take relations with neighbouring and friendly countries in a transformative direction based on mutual equality, respect, trust and economic partnership, without being constrained by prejudice, narrow-mindedness or unnecessary distrust,” he said.

Khanal said the government and Foreign Ministry’s approach was to pursue economic prosperity through clear, mature and results-oriented diplomacy while putting the national interest first.