India, June 7 -- Civilisational ties and territorial sovereignty are not contradictory but complementary

This civilisational context does not eliminate the need for boundary demarcation or protecting national interests. It provides the trust necessary to address difficult questions through dialogue rather than confrontation

Prime Minister Balendra Shah's recent remarks in Nepal's Parliament on the India-Nepal boundary issue have generated considerable debate. Yet much of the discussion has focused on individual words rather than the larger significance of what was said.

At its core, the Prime Minister's message reflected an important reality: territorial concerns and civilisational ties are not competing ideas. A mature state is capabl...