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 development comes after Nepal’s newly elected Prime Minister Balendra Shah stated that the issue of border dispute will also be raised with the United Kingdom as the issue extends to the British Raj in India.

What triggered the latest dispute?

On April 30, 2026, the Indian 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 traveling in groups of 50 to use two routes: one via Nathu La Pass in Sikkim and the other via Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand. Online registrations are open and the application deadline is May 19.

Nepal argued that they were not consulted or informed about the matter and expressed serious dissatisfaction.

Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that they conveyed their concerns to both India and China through diplomatic channels. Reasserting their claims on Lipulekh, officials stated that the Lipulekh region is an integral part of Kathmandu-Nepal territory and urged both countries to refrain from engaging in any activities there, including infrastructure development, border trade or religious travel. The ministry also noted that although China has been described as a ‘friendly country’, it has been officially informed of Nepal’s claim over Lipulekh.

Responding to the statement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said its position on Lipulekh was ‘consistent and clear’. A spokesperson noted that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has been conducted via the Lipulekh Pass since 1954, adding that the current plan does not represent a new development. New Delhi also rejected Nepal’s territorial claims as ‘unfair’ and lacking historical basis, stating that unilateral attempts to change the borders were ‘unfair’.

Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also said that India is open to constructive engagement with Nepal on all bilateral issues, including resolving pending border disputes through diplomatic dialogue.

The history behind the dispute

The dispute stems from long-standing uncertainty in historical maps. The 1816 Treaty of Sugauli defined the Kali River as Nepal’s western border, but disagreement persists over where the river actually begins. While India maintains that Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura are part of Uttarakhand, Nepal says these areas are located east of the river and therefore fall within Nepali territory.

The Border Working Group (BWG), established by Nepal and India in 2014 to address border-related issues, maintenance and technical issues, continued its activities in areas where the border was not disputed. However, progress on more sensitive issues such as Kalapani and Susta has stalled. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Nepal in 2014, both sides agreed that their foreign ministers would lead negotiations to resolve these disputes. In practice, no such high-level meetings have been held since then.

Nepal also expressed concern over the inclusion of Lipulekh Pass in the joint statement issued during Modi’s visit to China in 2015. Kathmandu has maintained that Lipulekh is a disputed tri-junction where Nepal has equal rights with India and China. The statement touched upon the expansion of border trade at 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-kilometer road built by the Border Roads Organization connecting Dharchula to Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s government responded by releasing a revised administrative map containing the same areas. Parliament approved the map, and in June 2020, Nepal amended its constitution to include the map in the national emblem.

India responded harshly to these developments. According to former Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali, New Delhi had earlier advised Kathmandu not to turn the dispute into a constitution, instead suggesting that the issue be resolved through political dialogue.

Why is the region important?

• Strategic Importance: Being located at the triple junction of India, Nepal and China (Tibet), it is of vital importance for border security, especially after the 1962 Sino-Indian War.

Troops were deployed to Kalapani.

• Religious Importance: It is an important route for pilgrims traveling to Mount Kailash, one of the holiest sites in Hinduism.

• Connectivity and Trade: India and China used Lipulekh for border trade and infrastructure development; Nepal sees this as disrespecting its territorial rights.

How does China fit into this mix?

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

Nepal’s objection is not new. It’s part of a decades-old territorial dispute with roots in colonial-era borders, now reignited by modern infrastructure and changing geopolitics. Until India and Nepal reach a consensus on the origin of the Kali River, the status of Lipulekh will remain controversial no matter how many pilgrims pass through it.

This article was written by Divya Sharma, student of University Kristu Jayanti.