Nepal objects to Indo-China Kailash route via Lipulek

 Kathmandu, May 3

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) reiterated on Sunday evening that Limpiyadhura, Lipulek and Kalapani, located east of the Mahakali River, are integral parts of Nepal, as established by the Treaty of Sugauli of 1816.

The Ministry issued a statement responding to the proposed operation of the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage route via Lipulek – passing through Nepali territory – between India and China.

The government has clarified Nepal's position responding to the queries and concerns raised by media and general people many of whom took to social media demanding government's statement on the recent development that undermined Nepal's sovereignty.

"The Government of Nepal has once again conveyed its clear position and concerns regarding the proposed Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage route via Lipulek to both India and China through diplomatic channels," read the statement.

The government has urged India, in the past, not to undertake any activities in the area, including the construction or expansion of roads, border trade, or pilgrimage-related activities.

The MoFA also said that Nepal has formally informed China that the Lipulek area lies within Nepali territory.

It stated that in line with the spirit of the close and friendly relations between Nepal and India, Nepal remains committed to resolving the boundary issue through diplomatic means, on the basis of historical treaties, facts, maps and evidence.

According to previous foreign ministers, although the government had sent diplomatic notes to both India and China they did not respond to them.

Althought he 2016 Sugauli Treaty established the Mahakali river as Nepal's western boundary, following its war with China in 1962, India stationed its security forces in Kalapani. Nepal delayed objections to it enabled India to enhance infrastructure and accessibility to the northern border with China.

Although India had been claiming the Nepali territory since early 1950s, Nepal formally asked India to remove the Kalapani area from its map after the latter did so in November 2019.

In November 2019, India released a new map showing Kalapani, Lipulek and Limpiyadhura within its territory. Nepal strongly protested and sought a talk with India but the latter turned deaf ears to it.

Next year, in May, India constructed an 80-km road connecting Dharchula and Lipulek pass, a Nepal-China border point. Nepal immediately protested and sent a diplomatic note to India demanding a halt to the unilateral action in its territory. The Kalapani area including Limpiyadhura and Lipulek covers about 350 square km.

Earlier, in 2015, when India and China signed an agreement to expand their bilateral trade through the Lipulek pass during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China, Nepal registered a formal protest stating that the two neighbours consented on using Nepali territory without seeking consent of the latter.

The road was inaugurated by Indian defense minister is used for strategic movement of military forces. Lipulek, located at 17,000 feet altitude, is a strategic location and main entry to the Mansarovar while a nearby Tinker Bhanjyang (pass) is a historic trade routh with touristic and strategic importance.

India has long been averting to accept the report of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on Nepal-India Relations for the past several years. The Group was mandated, by both Nepal and India, to review the entire relations between the two countries, including 1950 India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship.

In response to Nepal's stand on the issue, the Ministry of External Affairs of India said on Sunday evening that India has consistently maintained that such claims are not justified and not based on historical evidence.

“India’s position in this regard had been consistent and clear. Lipulek Pass has been a long-standing route for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra since 1954 and the Yatra through this route has been going on for decades. This is not a new development," read a statement issued by MEA Spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal.

However, the MEA said that India remained open to a constructive interaction with Nepal on resolving agreed outstanding boundary issues through dialogue and diplomacy.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 4 May 2026.           

Experts call for innovative measures at Nepal-India border

Kathmandu, Feb. 10

Security experts from Nepal and India have stressed on implementing innovative approaches in border management.

Speaking at the Nepal-India Think Tank Forum on 'Regional Resilience: Strengthening Nepal-India Security Cooperation' organised by Nepal Institute of International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE), they said that the two neighbours should have smarter border that would promote better cross-border engagement of people.

Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh (Retd.), Director General of the United Service Institution of India, oldest think tank of the Indian military, said that the world over, there are controls and restrictions and people have had to struggle for decades to try and introduce open borders.

"Here, we have inherited them. You only have to use technology in order to safeguard against threats that may emerge of movement from one side to the other. Why do you want to manage open borders? What you have today is something unique across the world," said Singh.

According to him, Nepal and India should look at border governance rather than management. They should enhance security cooperation and security governance.

He also said that anything that may negatively impact the free flow of trade should not be promoted.

Likewise, Alok Bansal, Executive Vice President of India Foundation, said that a joint management of border is a good proposition. But that can only come about if Nepal and India actually have better cooperation.

Dr. Gaurav Saini, co-founder of the Council for Strategic and Defence Research, said the India–Nepal border is unique for its deep trade, cultural, and people-to-people ties, but its porous nature also creates shared security challenges. He highlighted human trafficking, narcotics smuggling, and counterfeit currency as transnational threats affecting both countries, citing a January 2026 seizure of counterfeit Nepali currency by Bihar Police.

Binoj Basnyat, Political and Security Analyst, suggested that there be smarter borders, not harder borders.

To further strengthen the bilateral ties, he suggested to stabilise the Nepal-India relationship, practise the discipline of engaging, not symbolic balancing, and build institutions before ambitions.

While stressing the importance of elections in Nepal, Singh questioned whether they would ensure strategic stability, warning that without generational renewal and institutional reform, elections may only repeat existing cycles. He described the post-election period as a “strategic pause rather than a strategic solution” and called for an inclusive dialogue.

Similarly, Ambassador Pankaj Saran, Former National Security Advisor of India and Convenor at NatStrat, shared that he has been impressed by the interaction with Youths of Nepal and youth of both India and Nepal should engage to share the future of Nepal-India relations.

Anurag Acharya, Director PEI, discussed three major avenues including physical connectivity, trade and digital connectivity that have contributed to improved bilateral ties. He also discussed emerging avenues like tech integration, religious and cultural tourism and sports that could further contribute to business and economy on both sides.

Sumitra Karki, Director of NIICE, said that they had a strong conviction that the Government of India must continue to encourage Nepal studies in India, and the Government of Nepal must encourage India studies back home, and knowledge exchange and institutional support can only enhance mutual understanding between the two nations.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 11 February 2026.   

Dr. Rana, Mahawar agree to call meeting of Boundary Working Group

 Kathmandu, Jan. 29

Additional Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India, Munu Mahawar paid a courtesy call to Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, in Kathmandu on Wednesday where the two agreed on the need to hold the meeting of the Nepal-India Boundary Working Group soon to facilitate necessary discussions on border issues.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said in a statement that the meeting took note that the Group, a mechanism for addressing border-related matters, had not convened in recent years, despite the 2024 Nepal-India Joint Commission meeting directing it to do so promptly.

Dr. Rana and Mahawar discussed various aspects of Nepal-India relations, mutual concerns, shared interests and areas of future cooperation, the MoFA informed in a statement.

FM Dr. Rana reiterated Nepal’s longstanding request for additional air routes from India and direct flights from various Indian cities to Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa and Pokhara International Airport. She urged Secretary Mahawar to convey Nepal’s request to the Indian government as a priority.

The meeting further highlighted the recent success of the Nepal-India Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) on trade and the bilateral energy discussions held in Kathmandu this month. Both sides stressed the importance of continuing such engagements to enhance bilateral cooperation.

Likewise, Dr. Rana requested India’s support in facilitating the transportation of essential equipment and construction materials for the road being built from Darchula to Tinker via the eastern side of the Mahakali River. Due to the region’s difficult terrain, Nepal has formally sought permission to transport these materials through Indian territory.

The border issue was also talked about at a meeting held earlier on Tuesday between the visiting Additional Secretary, Mahawar and Nepal's Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.     

The two had also discussed cross-border crime and its mitigation, cooperation between the border security forces of the two countries and the construction of an integrated customs facility at Dodhara Chandani of Kanchanpur. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 30 January 2025.  

Launch Publicity Campaign On New Map, Dhungel Tells Govt

Kathmandu, May 23: Former Secretary Dwarika Nath Dhungel has suggested the government to create a pool of documents and experts on Kalapani issue in order to present Nepal’s status on the matter and counter aggressive Indian propaganda.

“The government should immediately launch a publicity campaign on the rationality of the newly issued map of Nepal. It should reach out the international organisations and community with solid 
evidences and comments,” he said in an interview with The Rising Nepal on Friday.


He said that the publicity campaign should be started with the diplomatic missions and international NGOs based in Kathmandu and organise national and international interactions and dialogues on the matter.


The second step would be to send the map to the United Nations. “We must know whether we can send the map to the global body. If yes, when and how?” he stated.


According to Dhungel, another item in the to-do list should be amending the digitised maps available in Google and other online platforms. The Ministry of Law should take initiative on it.


Google displays a map of Nepal with demarcation on Kalapani area but not Limpiyadhura and Lipulek while the area of Nepal is changed to 147,516 square km from 147,181 sq. km in Wikipedia.


“Another thing that the government must immediately be prepared on is forming a strong team for dialogue with India. Since dialogue is the best and effective way to resolve the bilateral issues, enough care should be paid to hire the experts in the team rather than the henchmen,” said Dhungel.


The team should work to gather additional evidences from the sources in Nepal, India, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. He said that Nepali mission in New Delhi should also be mobilised to collect the proof.


He said that a report was prepared by Shanta Bahadur Manandhar and a team that went to London to conduct research on Kalapani area. The report could be a good source in terms of collecting evidence.


“The government must act proactively and promptly. India has come forward aggressively because it had forcefully encroached Nepali land but we should be well equipped with evidences and well-versed with comments,” he said.


Dhungel also said that although it was early to internationalise the issue, the government should call Nepali experts in other countries, especially in Europe and the USA and take their help in making our voice stronger.


“This is a big issue but there are chances of our win if we continuously work through both political and diplomatic channels,” he said.

Published in The Rising Nepa on 24 May 2020. 

British-India Time Documents Name Mahakali As Border River

Kathmandu, May 24: Senior Advocate Prof Dr Yubaraj Sangroula has presented historical evidences from the days of the British-India that clearly show the entire Kalapani region, including Lipulek and Limpiyadhura, belongs to Nepal.

"The British war with Nepal in 1814 and 1816 were imperialistic interventions into our territory. 

Kumaun and Gadhwal were under Malla kings of western Nepal and they were not the lands annexed through encroachment but brought under Nepal in a unification process," he wrote in an article published in Gorkhapatra daily on Saturday.


Dr Sangroula said that Nepal should have received Kumaun and Gadhwal after the treaty of 1950 as per the international law because these two provinces were also liberated as India and were Nepal's territory annexed to India by the British rulers.


However, then Rana rulers who were counting their days in power did not care about protecting the land that actually belonged to Nepal so we must consider the colonial suppression while marking the international borders, he said.


"It means the border at the Mahakali River between Kumaun and Nepal is not a matter to be settled as per Indian opinion. The basis of the international border between Nepal and India would be Nepal's view on it because the land was snatched away from Nepal and was not returned," said Dr Sangroula.


According to him, the very right to Nepal is given by the international laws. Captain Woodbridge, in his book Military Sketches of the Gorkha War, has said that the British rulers in India wanted to end the war after Nepal lost it at multiple fronts by taking the land between the Mahakali River and Sutluj River and leaving land East of Mahakali to Nepal.


This is the proof that the Mahakali, the first river east of Kumaun, is Nepal's western border. But India has termed a small stream, east of Limpiyadhura and Lipulek, artificially created by it as the Kali River.


"This is the expansionist act of India. We must accept the border set by the earlier documents exchanged between British India and Nepal. Not accepting it would not be good for India as well," said Dr Sangroula.


He has urged India to review the facts presented in those documents and decide whether the land it encroached belonged to it.


An agreement was signed between Amar Singh Thapa and David Ochterlony in Malong on 15 May 1815 which names the Kali River as the border. "If India does not accept that decision, it should not accept any agreement with British-India; there would be newer discussions in such a situation," he said.

Cartographic exercises started immediately after the Malong convention and the maps clearly stated that the river flowing down from Limpiyadhura was the Kali, not a small brook east of it.

Published on 25 May 2020.