New Delhi/Kathmandu: Nepal on Monday renewed its territorial claim over the Lipulekh Pass, while urging diplomatic dialogue with India to resolve the dispute, a day after New Delhi firmly rejected Kathmandu’s stance.
The development comes amid tensions over the upcoming Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which India plans to conduct between June and August via the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and Nathu La in Sikkim.
India on Sunday dismissed Nepal’s اعتراض to the use of Lipulekh, describing Kathmandu’s territorial claims as an “unilateral artificial enlargement” and asserting that such a position is “untenable.”
Responding to India’s statement, Nepal government spokesperson Sasmit Pokharel said the country is not attempting to expand its borders but is maintaining its long-standing claim over the region. “The territory belongs to Nepal, and the government is clear and committed to its stance,” he said.
At the same time, Pokharel emphasised the need for peaceful resolution, stating that the issue should be addressed through collaboration and diplomatic engagement between the two neighbours. He added that Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally communicated its position to India.
The Lipulekh Pass, located at the tri-junction of India, Nepal and China, has been a point of contention between New Delhi and Kathmandu for years. The route is also strategically and religiously significant, serving as one of the key passages for the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage to Tibet.
The yatra, revered by Hindus, Jains and Buddhists, resumed last year after a gap of nearly five years as part of efforts to normalise India-China ties.
The latest exchange highlights continuing sensitivities over territorial claims even as both countries signal openness to dialogue.
