Kathmandu: A group of prominent border and geopolitical experts has objected to a statement made by Prime Minister Balendra Shah in the House of Representatives, in which he reportedly stated that “Nepal has also crossed the border of India.”

The objection was raised through a joint statement issued by Nepal-India border experts including Buddhi Narayan Shrestha, Pitambar Sharma, Narendra Khanal, Jagat Bhusal, international border specialist Prabhakar Sharma and Dwarikanath Dhungel.

In their statement, the experts said they were surprised by the Prime Minister’s remarks and argued that such comments have created unnecessary confusion regarding a sensitive national issue.

The experts noted that no official government body has publicly concluded that Nepal has encroached upon Indian territory. They stated that this was the first time such a claim had been publicly attributed to a sitting Prime Minister and called on the government to clarify the factual basis for the statement.

The statement further pointed out that the Nepal-India Joint Boundary Commission has completed approximately 98 percent of its boundary-related work. However, according to the experts, neither the commission nor any other official institution has publicly concluded that Nepal has crossed into Indian territory.

Instead, they noted that unresolved border issues continue to exist in areas related to the source of the Mahakali River and the Susta region.

The scholars emphasized that issues concerning national sovereignty, territorial integrity and international borders are highly sensitive and should be addressed only on the basis of verified facts, evidence and official records.

They also reminded the Prime Minister that the Government of Nepal has already published its updated political and administrative map reflecting Nepal’s official territorial claims.

Calling the Prime Minister’s remarks factually unclear, the experts urged Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal to remove the statement from the official parliamentary record if it cannot be substantiated.

The joint statement further urged Prime Minister Shah to publicly clarify his remarks and, if necessary, apologize in order to dispel confusion among the public regarding Nepal’s border issues.

According to the experts, statements made by the country's chief executive on matters of national borders carry significant weight and should be based on clear evidence and official findings.