Nepal’s Treaty Copies: Where Are They?

Nepal’s government has once again failed to provide a clear answer to a long-standing question: does the country possess copies of its historic treaties with Britain and India?

During a question-and-answer session in parliament on Monday, Foreign Minister Shishir Khadka was asked by Nepali Congress MP Nishkal Rai about the whereabouts of the original copies of the 1816 Sugauli Treaty with Britain and the 1950 Peace and Friendship Treaty with India.

Minister Khadka replied that the Foreign Ministry takes the preservation of Nepal’s historical and diplomatic documents very seriously, but failed to provide a clear answer to the question.

MP Rai pressed for a clearer answer, asking if the government had lost the original copies of the treaties. Minister Khadka responded that while Nepal has some documents related to the treaties, it is unclear if the country possesses the original copies.

This is not the first time the question has been raised. In the past, MPs have repeatedly asked the government about the whereabouts of the treaty copies, but have not received a satisfactory answer.

A History of Uncertainty

The Sugauli Treaty, signed in 1816, marked the end of the Nepal-British War and established Nepal’s modern borders. However, the treaty’s original copy has been missing for years, sparking concerns about the country’s ability to protect its historical documents.

In 2019, then-Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka publicly stated that the government did not possess the original copies of the Sugauli Treaty and the 1950 Peace and Friendship Treaty.

The issue has been raised again in parliament, with MPs demanding to know why the government has failed to provide a clear answer to the question.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah has said that he has been in talks with the British government about the issue, but it is unclear what progress has been made.

The lack of clarity on the whereabouts of the treaty copies has sparked concerns about Nepal’s ability to protect its historical documents and its relations with neighboring countries.