People to people connection: Merits and demerits of open border relation between Nepal and India
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Department of International Relations and Diplomacy
Abstract
The relationship between Nepal and India is unique and has got long history from the
time when British were ruling India. It has 1800 square kilometers open border
system was formally regulated after Nepal and India signed Peace and Friendship
Treaty in 1950. People of both the nations got legal permission to carry out their
business and trading activities smoothly as mentioned in the Article VII of Peace and
Friendship Treaty which has helped Nepal and India to maintain their traditional
socio-cultural and economic relation. People to people connection has played vital
role in maintaining harmonious relation between Nepal and India. It has significant
impact on the border relations between both the nation because of bread and daughter
relation, employment opportunities, facilitated medical treatment, quality education
and trainings and so on. Despite of many prospects of open border, it has also created
threats for national security, illegal activities and terrorism have increased. The
misuse of open border has been done and to control that both nations have deployed
border security forces on each sides but despite of that no minimization of criminal
activities has been seen. Local people also face many hurdles to carry out their daily
chores through which they used to earn their livelihood. These kinds of problem has
weakened the harmonious relationship between the nation, time and again.
Therefore, to maintain the friendly relation, the issues of open border system should
be tackled diplomatically on the government level and for this government should
employ special team which will work and do research on the grassroot level and come
up with the solution which will create win-win situation for both Nepal and India.
Keywords: People to people connection, open border, closed or restricted border,
Nepal and India open border relation, border policies and mechanism.