Nepal on Monday renewed its territorial claim over Lipulekh Pass and called for diplomatic dialogue with India to resolve the issue, a day after New Delhi firmly rejected Kathmandu’s position.
India on Sunday dismissed Nepal’s objection to the upcoming Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Lipulekh as an “unilateral artificial enlargement” of territorial claims, stating that such assertions are “untenable”.
The response came shortly after Nepal’s foreign ministry objected to preparations by India and China for the annual pilgrimage through the pass, claiming that the region falls within its territory.
“Nepal doesn't intend to enlarge its boundary; the territory belongs to Nepal, and the government has a clear view about this and is committed to its stance,” government spokesperson Sasmit Pokharel told reporters.
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Pokharel, who also serves as Nepal’s Minister for Education, Science and Technology, said Kathmandu favours a negotiated settlement. “The issue needs to be resolved through collaboration and diplomatic dialogue between the two countries,” he said, adding that the foreign ministry has formally communicated its position to India.
The dispute has resurfaced ahead of the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region that holds deep religious significance for Hindus, Jains and Buddhists.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs had on April 30 announced that the yatra would be conducted between June and August this year through two routes — Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and Nathula Pass in Sikkim.
The pilgrimage resumed last year after a gap of nearly five years as part of broader efforts to stabilise ties between India and China following border tensions.
The renewed exchange between New Delhi and Kathmandu underscores lingering boundary disagreements, even as both sides emphasise the need for dialogue to address sensitive territorial issues.
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