The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday strongly condemned Nepal’s latest remarks over the Lipulekh Pass, after Kathmandu objected to the resumption of India–China trade through the Himalayan route. The KP Sharma Oli-led Nepali government had claimed that the official map of Nepal, incorporated into its Constitution, shows Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani east of the Mahakali River as “integral parts of Nepal.”
India hit back firmly. “As regards territorial claims, our position remains that such claims are neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence. Any unilateral artificial enlargement of territorial claims is untenable,” the MEA said in a statement.
Nepal’s Objection and Appeal
Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its position, urging India to refrain from activities such as road construction, expansion, and border trade in what it claims is Nepali territory. The statement also noted that Kathmandu had even informed Beijing that the Lipulekh area belongs to Nepal.
“In the spirit of close and friendly relations between Nepal and India, the Government of Nepal has been committed to resolving the border issue through diplomatic means on the basis of historical treaties, maps, and evidence,” the statement added.
India Cites Long History of Border Trade
Rejecting Nepal’s claims, the MEA reminded that border trade through the Lipulekh Pass has been active for decades, dating back to 1954. “This trade had been disrupted in recent years due to Covid and other developments, and both sides have now agreed to resume it,” the ministry clarified.
India also asserted that its position on the boundary issue has been “consistent and clear” and urged Nepal to avoid unilateral assertions.
The Long-Standing Border Dispute
The Lipulekh Pass dispute sits at the heart of the larger Kalapani territorial conflict between India and Nepal. The dispute arises from differing opinions of the Mahakali River’s source, which establishes the border alignment in accordance with the British and Nepalese Treaty of Sugauli in 1816.
Tensions between the two neighbours escalated in 2020 when Nepal released a revised political map that incorporated Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura within its territory, a move New Delhi categorically rejected as a “cartographic expansion.”
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Dialogue Still Open
Despite the sharp rebuttal, India stressed that it remains committed to dialogue. “New Delhi is open to constructive interaction with Nepal on resolving agreed outstanding boundary issues through diplomacy,” the MEA said.
The resumption of Lipulekh trade came alongside broader measures between India and China to normalise strained ties. During Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s recent visit to India, both sides agreed not only to restart border trade but also to resume direct flights “at the earliest” and finalise an updated air services agreement.
The announcements mark a cautious thaw in India–China relations after years of military tensions along the Line of Actual Control.
