Tensions have risen again between Nepal and India after New Delhi announced the resumption of a religious pilgrimage through the disputed Lipulekh Pass in the Himalayas.
Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally lodged a protest on Sunday, objecting to India’s decision and reiterating its claim over the territory. Kathmandu maintains that the regions of Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiadhura belong to Nepal under the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli, which defined borders between Nepal and then British-ruled India.
In its statement, Nepal stressed that its position on the matter remains “clear and firm,” rejecting any alternative claims.
India, however, defended its move, saying the Lipulekh route has historically been used since 1954 for the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Bon followers. The Indian Foreign Ministry said Nepal’s claims are not supported by historical evidence and called them “unjustified.”
The dispute resurfaced after India confirmed an agreement with China to restart the pilgrimage route, which had been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Under the new arrangement, hundreds of pilgrims will travel through Uttarakhand to enter Tibet via Lipulekh, while another route will operate through Sikkim, further intensifying the diplomatic friction between the two neighbors.
