India has firmly rejected Nepal’s over the use of the Lipulekh Pass route for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, reiterating that its position on the matter remains “clear and consistent,” while also dismissing Kathmandu’s territorial claims as unfounded.
In an official statement issued on May 3, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the Lipulekh Pass has been a traditional route for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra since 1954, emphasising that the current development does not represent any policy shift.
“Lipulekh Pass has been a long-standing route for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra since 1954. This is not a new development,” the Ministry stated. Responding to Nepal’s claims over the disputed region, India asserted that such positions lack historical and factual basis. “Such claims are neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence. Such unilateral artificial enlargement of territorial claims is untenable,” the statement added.
Despite the sharp exchange, New Delhi signalled its willingness to engage diplomatically, noting that it remains “open to constructive interaction,” including resolving outstanding boundary issues through dialogue and established diplomatic mechanisms.
Nepal Lodges Diplomatic Protest
The response comes after Nepal formally raised objections to the proposed pilgrimage route via Lipulekh, issuing diplomatic notes to both India and China. Kathmandu reiterated its longstanding claim over the disputed region, citing the Sugauli Treaty as the basis for its position.
According to Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, territories including Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani are integral parts of Nepal under the treaty framework.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Paudyal Chhetri confirmed that concerns were conveyed to both New Delhi and Beijing through official diplomatic channels. Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal stated that the decision to escalate the matter followed consultations with key political stakeholders, and that Nepal’s formal position has now been communicated.
Kathmandu also informed China that the Lipulekh area falls within its claimed territory.
Nepal has urged India to refrain from undertaking infrastructure development, border trade, or pilgrimage-related activities in the contested area. The government described the issue as sensitive and noted that similar concerns have been raised repeatedly in the past.
“At the same time, in keeping with the spirit of close and friendly Nepal-India relations, Nepal remains committed to resolving the boundary issue through historical facts, evidence and diplomatic dialogue,” the Ministry said.
Long-Standing Dispute Resurfaces
The Lipulekh-Kalapani-Limpiyadhura region has been a persistent point of contention between India and Nepal, with competing territorial claims rooted in differing interpretations of historical treaties and maps.
The latest diplomatic exchange has once again brought the dispute into focus, even as both sides maintain firm positions while signalling that dialogue remains the preferred path toward resolution.