The Lipulekh Pass: A Border Dispute Rooted in a 210-year-old Treaty

The dispute between India and Nepal over the Lipulekh pass is once again in the headlines. The latest comes after Nepal’s newly elected Prime Minister, Balendra Shah, stated that the matter regarding the boundary dispute will also be raised with the United Kingdom since the issue dates back to the British Raj in India.

What triggered the latest dispute?

On the 30th of April 2026, India’s Ministry of External Affairs announced that the 2026 Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in Tibet, will take place between June and August in coordination with China. The plan allows 1,000 pilgrims, travelling in batches of 50, to use two routes: one via the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim and the other through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand. Online registrations are open, with 19 May set as the deadline.

Nepal argued that the matter was neither consulted with them nor were they informed, and has expressed strong dissatisfaction.

In a statement, Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that they have conveyed its concerns to both India and China through diplomatic channels. They reasserted their claim over Lipulekh and stated that the Lipulekh region is an integral part of Kathmandu-Nepali territory and urged both countries to avoid undertaking any activities there, including infrastructure development, border trade, or religious travel. The ministry also noted that China, despite being described as a ‘friendly country,’ has been formally informed of Nepal’s claim over Lipulekh.

Responding to the statement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said its position on Lipulekh remains ‘consistent and clear.’ A spokesperson pointed out that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has been conducted via the Lipulekh Pass since 1954, adding that the current plan does not represent any new development. New Delhi also rejected Nepal’s territorial claims as ‘unjustified’ and lacking historical basis, stating that any one-sided attempt to alter boundaries is ‘unjustifiable.’

Ministry of External Affairs of India spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, further said that India remains open to constructive engagement with Nepal on all bilateral matters, including resolving pending boundary disputes through diplomatic dialogue.

History behind the dispute

The dispute stems from long-standing vagueness in historical maps. The 1816 Treaty of Sugauli defined the Kali River as Nepal’s western boundary, but disagreement persists over where the river actually begins. India argues that Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura are part of Uttarakhand, whereas Nepal says that these areas lie to the east of the river and therefore they fall within the territory of Nepal.

The Boundary Working Group (BWG) set up by Nepal and India in 2014 to address boundary-related issues, maintenance and technical matters, has continued to function in areas where the border is not disputed. However, on more sensitive issues such as Kalapani and Susta, progress has stalled. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2014 visit to Nepal, both sides had agreed that their foreign secretaries would lead negotiations to resolve these disputes. In practice, no such high-level meetings have taken place since.

Nepal has also raised concerns over the inclusion of the Lipulekh Pass in the joint statement issued during Modi’s 2015 visit to China. Kathmandu maintained that Lipulekh is a disputed tri-junction where Nepal has an equal claim along with India and China. The statement had referred to expanding border trade through several points, including Nathu La Pass, Lipulekh Pass, and Shipki La. This reference triggered concerns across Nepal.

Tensions came to a head in May 2020, when India inaugurated an 80-kilometre road constructed by the Border Roads Organisation, linking Dharchula in Uttarakhand to the Lipulekh Pass. The government of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli responded by issuing a revised administrative map incorporating the same territories. Parliament endorsed the map, and in June 2020, Nepal amended its constitution to include it in the national emblem.

India responded firmly to these developments. According to former Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali, New Delhi had earlier advised Kathmandu against constitutionalising the dispute, suggesting instead that it be resolved through political dialogue.

Why the territory matters?

• Strategic Importance: It lies at the tri-junction of India, Nepal, and China (Tibet), making it crucial for border security, especially after the 1962 Sino-Indian War, after which India 

stationed troops in Kalapani.

• Religious Significance: It is a key route for pilgrims travelling to Mount Kailash, one of Hinduism’s holiest sites.

• Connectivity & Trade: India and China have used Lipulekh for border trade and infrastructure development, which Nepal sees as disregard to its territorial rights.

How China comes into the mix?

China’s actions have often unsettled Nepal. In 2015, India and China agreed to use Lipulekh for trade and pilgrimage without consulting Nepal, sparking protests from Kathmandu. The issue resurfaced in August 2025 when, during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Delhi, both countries agreed to reopen the pass for border trade. Nepal objected, and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli raised the matter with China’s Prime Minister Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin. Xi reportedly acknowledged Nepal’s concerns but described the Lipulekh dispute as a bilateral issue to be resolved between Nepal and India.

Nepal’s objection is not new. It is part of a decades-long territorial dispute rooted in colonial-era boundaries, now reignited by modern infrastructure and shifting geopolitics. Until India and Nepal reach a consensus on the origin of the Kali River, the status of Lipulekh will remain contested regardless of how many pilgrims pass through it.

This article is written by Divya Sharma, a student of Kristu Jayanti Deemed to be University.