Government spokesperson denies PM Shah said Nepal encroached on Indian territory

Kathmandu– The government has clarified that Prime Minister Shah did not state in Parliament that Nepal had encroached on Indian territory, dismissing interpretations of his recent remarks on the Nepal–India border issue.Speaking to journalists at Singha Durbar on Tuesday, government spokesperson and Minister for Youth and Sports Sasmita Pokharel said the Prime Minister’s comments had been taken out of context. According to her, Shah was referring to claims raised during bilateral discussions on border disputes and had merely expressed surprise at hearing allegations that Nepal had also encroached on Indian land.

“The Prime Minister was discussing the border dispute process and said he was surprised when the other side raised the issue that Nepal had also encroached on border areas,” Pokharel said. “He mentioned this context in Parliament as well. He did not make any statement claiming that Nepal had encroached on Indian territory.”

Pokharel noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already issued a clarification on the matter. She explained that discussions within Nepal–India border mechanisms have highlighted areas where land currently administered by one country may, according to differing interpretations, fall within the territory of the other.She said the Prime Minister’s position is that such issues should be addressed through dialogue and mutual understanding between the two neighboring countries rather than through public controversy.

“The Prime Minister did not make any remarks intended to create a dispute,” Pokharel said. “He simply stated that he was surprised when such claims were brought up during discussions.”

The spokesperson also emphasized that Prime Minister Shah remains accountable to Parliament and the public. She said he had already responded to lawmakers’ questions in the House on Sunday and would be prepared to provide further clarification if necessary.The clarification comes amid debate over comments made by the Prime Minister during a parliamentary session, which some interpreted as an admission that Nepal had occupied Indian territory. The government has maintained that his remarks were misinterpreted and were intended only to describe discussions that had taken place within bilateral border mechanisms.