Nepal turns to UN over ‘obstruction’ of trade point with India

Nepal has turned to the UN over alleged obstruction of a key border trade point with India that has resulted in acute shortage of essential goods as it appealed to the international community to ensure that land- locked countries’ freedom of transit is not curtailed.

Deputy Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh, who led Nepal’s delegation to the UN General Assembly, held talks with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during which the issue of “India’s blockade” on the border also figured, sources close to Singh said. Ban expressed his concern over the obstruction of essential supplies and the difficulties resulting from it, they said.

He appealed to the world community to ensure effective and unhindered access to the sea for landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) like Nepal through effective implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action for 2014-2024.

“The world needs to ensure LLDCs unhindered access to the sea for <g data-gr-id="23">free</g> movement of people and goods. We stress that the freedom of transit of LLDCs should not be constrained under any circumstance or on <g data-gr-id="22">pretext</g> to disrupt the flow of goods. The freedom of transit of LLDCs must be unconditionally adhered to by all transit countries,” he said. 

Singh’s remarks come at a time when Nepal claims to be suffering from scarcity of essential goods like fuel and cooking gas due to what it terms as "undeclared blockade" of a key trade point.