India Rejects Nepal Objection To Border Trade With China
India emphasised that any “unilateral artificial enlargement of territorial claims” is untenable and reaffirmed its consistent and clear position on the matter.
New Delhi:New Delhi on Wednesday rejected Nepal’s objection to the India-China agreement to resume border trade through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand, asserting that Nepal’s territorial claims over the area are “neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence.”
In a late-evening statement, the Indian government said that border trade through the Lipulekh Pass began in 1954 and had been operational for decades until it was disrupted in recent years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and other developments. “Both sides have now agreed to resume it,” the statement said.
India emphasised that any “unilateral artificial enlargement of territorial claims” is untenable and reaffirmed its consistent and clear position on the matter. It added that India remains open to “constructive interaction with Nepal on resolving agreed outstanding boundary issues through dialogue and diplomacy.”
The Indian response came after Nepal opposed the resumption of trade at Lipulekh, claiming the territory as its own and stating that it had urged New Delhi not to engage in activities such as road construction or border trade in the area. Kathmandu also claimed to have informed China that the region belongs to Nepal.
