Kathmandu — A senior leader of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has asked the government to settle border disputes with India soon.

Addressing the media on Sunday, Madhav Kumar Nepal said: “It is a good time to resolve the border dispute when both Nepal and India have strong and stable governments,” The Himalayan Times reported.

His remarks come after India released a new map in November 2019 of its geographical area laying claim to a 35 sq.km area known as Kalapani on the country’s border with Nepal, which New Delhi has said that it was its territory.

Kalapani, located 18 km from Lipulekh pass, is a transit route for the Kailash-Mansarovar yatra and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Oli on November 17, 2019 said the Kalapani area belonged to Nepal and India should “immediately withdraw its Army from there”.

The map has led to protests in both the neighboring countries.