World
India Rejects Nepal’s Objection Over Border Trade At Lipulekh Pass, Says Decades-Old Route With China Precedes Kathmandu’s Artificial Claims
MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has dismissed Nepal’s remarks over the planned resumption of border trade between India and China through the Lipulekh Pass, reiterating that such trade began in 1954 and had only paused in recent years due to the pandemic and other disruptions.
India also rejected Kathmandu’s territorial assertions over Lipulekh as “neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence,” while saying it remains open to dialogue with Nepal on outstanding boundary issues.
In a statement responding to Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the MEA said trade through Lipulekh “has been going on for decades” and that “unilateral artificial enlargement of territorial claims is untenable".
"We have noted the comments of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal related to resumption of border trade between India and China through the Lipulekh Pass. Our position in this regard has been consistent and clear," the MEA said.
"Border trade between India and China through Lipulekh pass had commenced in 1954 and has been going on for decades. 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 said.
"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 added.
According to the joint understandings reached in recent India–China talks, both sides agreed to restart border trade at three designated points—Lipulekh Pass, Shipki La and Nathu La—routes that were active before COVID-19 restrictions.
Nepalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs had on Wednesday (20 August) objected to the India-China statement on the border pass trade reopening.
“It is well known that the government of Nepal has consistently urged the government of India not to carry out any activities such as road construction/expansion or border trade in that area. The fact that the area is Nepali territory has also been communicated to the friendly nation, China,” said the statement.
India and Nepal share a 1,800 km-long open border. However, Nepal has disputed India's claim over 400 sq km area at India-Nepal-China tri-junction in western Nepal and 140 sq km area of Susta in southern Nepal. The Lipulekh Pass, is a mountainous pass in the Kalapani area.
In 2015, Nepal objected to an India-China agreement on trade through the Pass, claiming that it violated its territorial sovereignty.
The dispute sharpened in 2020 when Nepal amended its constitution to publish a new political map incorporating Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura—an action India rejected as lacking historical basis.
Nepal’s Parliament passed the amendment in June 2020 and the president authenticated it on 18 June 2020.
India says it is “open to constructive interaction” with Nepal to resolve agreed outstanding boundary issues through dialogue and diplomacy—messaging that aligns with its consistent rejection of Kathmandu’s current territorial claim while keeping channels open.
"India remains open to constructive interaction with Nepal on resolving agreed outstanding boundary issues through dialogue and diplomacy," the MEA said in its statement on Wednesday (20 August).
