A day after India and China announced reopening border trade from three points, including through Lipulekh Pass, Nepal’s government raised an objection to the step. Rejecting its objection on Wednesday, the Ministry of External Affairs responded that Kathmandu’s territorial claims are “neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence”. At the same time, India underlined that it remains “open to constructive interaction” with Nepal for the resolution of outstanding boundary issues through dialogue and diplomacy.
Earlier, Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested the India-China decision to resume trade through Lipulekh, a Himalayan pass on the border area that is also claimed by Nepal. In its statement, Kathmandu said, “The Government of Nepal has consistently urged the Government of India not to undertake activities such as road construction, expansion, or border trade in that area. The Government of Nepal has also conveyed to our friendly neighbor, China, that the territory belongs to Nepal.”
Nepal has long maintained that Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura fall within its sovereign territory. Tensions between New Delhi and Kathmandu escalated in November 2019 after India released a new political map incorporating Kalapani and Lipulekh within its boundaries.
India’s response to Nepal govt
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, however, reiterated that India’s position has been clear and consistent. “Border trade between India and China through Lipulekh Pass commenced in 1954 and has been going on for decades. This trade had been disrupted in recent years due to Covid and other developments, and both sides have now agreed to resume it,” he said.
“As regards territorial claims, our position remains that such claims are neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence. Any unilateral artificial enlargement of territorial claims is untenable,” Jaiswal added.
Chinese Foreign Minister’s India visit
The controversy comes in the backdrop of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s recent visit to New Delhi. Wang met PM Narendra Modi, EAM S Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval during his visit. He held talks with all the leaders and during which India and China announced the reopening of border trade through three designated trading points Lipulekh Pass, Shipki La Pass and Nathu La Pass.