Editor's Note: The Greater Nepal Nationalist Front (The Greater Nepal Nationalist Front) is a non-governmental organization recognized by the Nepalese government, established in Kathmandu in 2001. Its founding purpose is to recover the 177,069 square kilometers of land ceded to India under the Treaty of Sugauli (signed on March 4, 1816). Recently, the founder and chairman of the organization, Mr. Fani Dhruba Nepal, accepted the invitation from the Guancha Observer Network and provided written answers to questions of interest to readers. The following is the text transcript after editing, for readers' reference only, and does not represent the position of the Guancha Observer Network.

【Written by Fani Dhruba Nepal, translated by Whale Life】

Guancha Observer Network: What is your stance on the Treaty of Sugauli in 1816 and the Nepal-India border dispute?

Nepal: After the war between Nepal and the British East India Company, the Treaty of Sugauli was signed on March 4, 1816. According to this treaty, Nepal ceded 177,069 square kilometers out of its original 324,250 square kilometers of territory, reducing its size to 147,516 square kilometers. Before the treaty, Nepal's borders extended from the Brahmaputra River in the east to the Ravi River in the west, the Himalayas in the north, and the Ganges in the south. After the treaty, Nepal's borders were confined to the Mechi River in the east, the Mahakali River in the west, the Himalayas in the north, and a narrow strip of the Terai in the south. The land lost through this treaty remained under British colonial rule until August 1947. Although India and Pakistan were created under the Indian Independence Act of July 18, 1947, and the land technically became independent, it was never returned to Nepal. Even though the 1950 Nepal-India Peace and Friendship Treaty (Articles 1 and 8) annulled the Treaty of Sugauli, the territory was not returned. In fact, the purpose of the establishment of the Greater Nepal Nationalist Front organization is to reclaim this 177,069 square kilometers of land from India, including informing the general public about the historical context and pressuring the Nepalese government to officially raise this issue. Our argument is that since the treaty was with Britain, not India, India's occupation of this land is illegal and unjust.

Regarding the relationship between Nepal and India, in fact, the relationship between the two countries is one of "making do" — rooted in the idea that neighbors cannot be chosen. Although the civilian relations between the two countries remain cordial, the relations at the governmental level are often tense. India's behavior frequently reveals a sense of superiority, disregarding the principle of equal sovereignty. It interferes in Nepal's politics and internal affairs as if it were its right.

The biggest problem between Nepal and India lies in the encroachment on the border. Since 1950, India has colonized part of Greater Nepal and tampered with the boundaries defined by the Treaty of Sugauli. India has destroyed, removed, and relocated hundreds of boundary markers.

On April 3, 1816, Nepal and the British East India Company signed the Treaty of Sugauli, which defined the modern territorial boundaries of Nepal. However, the differing interpretations of the origin of the Kali River have sown the seeds of future territorial disputes. Photo source: Material Picture

Guancha Observer Network: How do you view the Pahalgam attack that occurred in the Indian-controlled Kashmir in April this year? What do you think is the root cause of the subsequent India-Pakistan conflict?

Nepal: The root cause of the conflict between India and Pakistan lies in Kashmir. Although the partition was based on religious demographics — Muslim-majority areas to Pakistan, Hindu-majority areas to India — India has repeatedly attacked Pakistan over the Kashmir issue, which is Muslim-majority. In the recent attack following the Pahalgam incident, India aimed to capture the Pakistani-administered Kashmir. However, China's military assistance helped Pakistan, leading to India's strategic failure and frustration.

The incident that occurred in Pahalgam, Kashmir last April was the act of terrorists, but India's claim that Pakistan was behind it is merely an accusation. Pakistan itself is a country suffering from terrorism. I personally witnessed India's involvement in anti-Pakistan activities in Geneva in 2019, particularly in ongoing terrorist activities in Balochistan. There, money was distributed to provoke slogans against Pakistan's integrity in favor of an independent Balochistan.

In the Pahalgam incident, India tried to use narrow Hindu politics as a shield. Terrorism has no religion, yet India attempted to portray the Muslim identity of the Pahalgam attackers as evidence that the entire Muslim nation of Pakistan is essentially terrorist in nature—an obvious ill intention. According to the Nepalese understanding, India harbors a biased attitude towards Pakistan. Its narrative to the international community—that Pakistan harbors terrorists—is nothing more than stubborn propaganda. India seems to believe that tarnishing Pakistan's image is the remedy for its own wounds from past defeats against Pakistan. However, this belief is self-deceptive, as the rest of the world appears to side with Pakistan in the context of the Pahalgam incident.

Even some Indian intellectuals suggest that the Pahalgam attack was orchestrated by India itself. Despite India's capability to quickly apprehend terrorists, the attackers remain untraced, reinforcing suspicions that the incident was state-sponsored to defame Pakistan internationally.

Guancha Observer Network: What impact do you think this round of India-Pakistan conflict will have on the geopolitical landscape of South Asia? Considering that India has sent delegations worldwide to promote its narrative, how do the people of Nepal interpret and understand this conflict?

Nepal: India's military action against Pakistan after the Pahalgam incident ended in defeat. The subsequent claims of victory were futile attempts to cover up the failure. If India had won, it would have aggressively tried to dominate South Asia. Instead, India was left nursing its wounds, and the region was spared from Indian military aggression.

The main border issue between Nepal and India is Kalapani. According to the Treaty of Sugauli, Kalapani belongs to Nepal, but India incorporated it into its political map on November 2, 2019, marking the first official encroachment. India has deployed troops there since 1962 and refuses to negotiate. Therefore, Nepal should consider inviting China or Britain to mediate. A similar issue exists in Susta, where India has encroached on 40,000 hectares of Nepalese land.

The deep purple area in the map represents the Kalapani region claimed by Nepal but occupied by India. In response to India's construction of roads in the area, the Nepalese government included it in its national territory in the new official maps and new banknotes issued in 2020 and 2024. Graphic design: Weibo account @1002 What

Guancha Observer Network: In your open letter to the Indian ambassador to Nepal, you wrote that India simultaneously carries out "water terrorism" activities against both Pakistan and Nepal. Could you introduce the situation you are aware of?

Nepal: Following the Pahalgam incident, India unilaterally cut off the flow of water from the Indus River, violating the Shimla Agreement. This was a punitive and inhumane act against Pakistan for an incident it allegedly had no role in. Using water as a weapon is a form of "hydro-terrorism," causing suffering for millions of ordinary Pakistanis.

India has similarly exploited Nepal's water resources, using over 80%, while much of Nepal remains arid. India builds dams and diverts water from Nepal. The 1956 Gandak Agreement prohibits projects that lower the water level above the Gandak canal, but India ignores this provision. India also interferes in Nepal's hydropower projects to serve its own interests. Nepali farmers are increasingly dissatisfied with this water exploitation, which they see as Indian "water terrorism."

Guancha Observer Network: As you introduced, there are deep connections between the civilian societies of Nepal and India, yet their relationship exhibits various forms of inequality and disharmony. Why is this the case?

Nepal: It is commendable that the people-to-people relationship between Nepal and India has remained unaffected by political tensions. These cultural, religious, and educational ties have been longstanding. However, India's government consistently hinders Nepal's physical and economic development. Since 1950, India's policy has been to keep Nepal economically weak and politically unstable. This serves two purposes: to prevent people from the lost territories under the Treaty of Sugauli from desiring reintegration with Nepal, and to maintain the supply of Nepalese youth to the Indian Army. Despite repeated economic blockades by India, Indian citizens have often shown humanitarian support toward Nepal. Therefore, the slogan "Down with Indian expansionism!" originates from genuine grievances.

Guancha Observer Network: Since the Trump administration closed the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the $500 million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) project signed with the Nepalese government in 2022 faces uncertainty. What is the current status of these projects? What impacts have the development assistance projects provided by China brought to Nepal domestically? What are the internal or external obstacles?

Nepal: The suspension of American aid projects like USAID and MCC will not hinder Nepal's development. These projects have long been suspected of having hidden agendas to block Chinese aid and use Nepalese territory against China's sovereignty. Among major world powers, China enjoys the highest trust among Nepalese people. Since the 1950s, China's contributions to Nepal's development are evident. However, due to pressure from India and the United States, the Nepalese government often hesitates to openly accept Chinese aid.

Former Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Li Debiao, once said to me during a lunch meeting in Beijing:

"The Chinese government wants to give Nepal so much aid that you won't be able to count the amount, but your government keeps saying 'wait.' What are you afraid of?"

In fact, India and the West view China's economic engagement with Nepal as a threat. The signing of the Nepal-China transit transport agreement also caused India great unease. They attempt to prevent China's presence in Nepal to facilitate anti-China operations. As long as Nepal remains governed by pro-India leadership, such space will continue to exist, an issue of concern for both Nepal and China.

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