Border dispute escalates between India and Nepal
The pilgrimage route to the sacred Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar in Tibet via the Lipulekh Pass has become the trigger for a new round of border dispute between India and Nepal.
The governments of the two countries have exchanged statements on this issue. Nepalese authorities have sent diplomatic notes to India and China, expressing objections to the pilgrimage through the Lipulekh Pass—a territory claimed by Kathmandu. Spokesperson for the Nepalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lok Bahadur Paudel Chhetri, stated that his country's concerns have been "conveyed to both neighbors through diplomatic channels."
A representative of the Nepalese Foreign Ministry stated that, under the Sugauli Treaty of 1816, the territories of Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani are integral parts of Nepal. He noted that Nepal has urged India to refrain from any activities in this region, including road construction, border trade, and the organization of pilgrimages.
Official spokesperson of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, responded to Nepal's objections by reiterating New Delhi's position. "Regarding territorial claims, India consistently maintains that such claims are neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence. Such unilateral artificial expansion of territorial claims is untenable," he stated.
The Lipulekh Pass has served as a traditional route for pilgrimage to Kailash and Manasarovar since 1954 and "is not something new," Jaiswal noted. "India remains open to constructive engagement with Nepal on all aspects of bilateral relations, including the resolution of agreed but yet unresolved border issues through dialogue and diplomacy," the spokesperson emphasized.
The pilgrimage through the Lipulekh Pass also took place in 2025, resuming after a five-year hiatus as part of efforts by India and China to normalize relations following the conclusion of a prolonged military standoff along the Line of Actual Control. In 2026, the pilgrimage is scheduled for the period from June to August. It is planned that 10 groups, each consisting of 50 pilgrims, will pass through the Lipulekh Pass.
Source: TASS
