Border Row: Nepal's 210-Year-Old Sugauli Treaty Missing? What It Means For India Border Dispute

Nepal says it cannot confirm whether it still has the original 1816 Sugauli Treaty—the historic agreement that helped define its boundary with British India. A parliamentary search reportedly failed to locate the original across archives, ministries, libraries and museums. The development comes as the India-Nepal dispute over Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura remains politically sensitive. The treaty identifies the Kali or Mahakali River as Nepal's western boundary, but the crucial question is where that river originates. Nepal identifies Limpiyadhura as the source, while India disputes this interpretation and cites historical administrative and revenue records. Does the missing original weaken Nepal's claim?