evidence: Indeed, the Kalapani area is of strategic significance in South Asian diplomacy as it serves as a tri-junction between India, China and Nepal. Given that Nepal is a "buffer state" between the other two countries—both with great-power aspirations in the region—the Kalapani dispute has important ramifications on the relations between the three. Key to the disagreement over Kalapani is the origin of River Kali. There are varied views regarding this river and its source. Buddhi Narayan Shrestha, former Director General of Nepal’s Land Survey department, had categorised the debaters into two broad groups. First, he said, are the scholars and researchers, along with the government machinery—to which he referred to as the "elite community" of Nepal. They are of the view that the river which flows to the west of Kalapani is the main River Kali, originating at either Limpiyadhura or the nearby Lipulekh pass, which are both within the Nepalese territory, thus justifying the area as an inherent part of Nepal. The second group comprises the Nepal-India Technical Level Joint Boundary Working Group, and officials of the Embassy of India in Nepal.[7] India, for its part, argues that the River Kali originated from a smaller rivulet named Pankhagad, lying on the southern portion of Kalapani and the subsequent ridge on the eastern part of this area is the true border, and therefore making the territory part of India.[8] Indeed, the River Kali has yet to be demarcated.