India on Thursday said it remains open to dialogue with Nepal over the long-standing border dispute involving the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district, while firmly maintaining its position on territorial claims. The remarks from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) came days after Nepal renewed its objection to the use of the Lipulekh route for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and reiterated its claim over the disputed region. The diplomatic exchange has once again brought focus to a sensitive territorial issue that has affected India-Nepal relations in recent years.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a weekly press briefing that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra route through Lipulekh is not a new development, noting that the pilgrimage has been conducted through the pass since 1954. He added that India had already issued a formal statement on the matter and remained willing to engage in “constructive interaction” with Nepal on all bilateral concerns, including unresolved boundary disputes, through dialogue and diplomacy. India had earlier dismissed Nepal’s objections as an “unilateral artificial enlargement” of territorial claims that it considers untenable.

The latest disagreement began after Nepal objected to India and China planning to facilitate this year’s Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Lipulekh Pass without consultation with Kathmandu. Nepal’s foreign ministry argued that the territory belongs to Nepal and reiterated that its official political map includes Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura within Nepalese borders. Government spokesperson Sasmit Pokharel stated that Nepal was not attempting to expand its territory but was instead asserting what it believes are its legitimate boundaries under the 1816 Sugauli Treaty. India, however, has consistently rejected these claims, saying they are not supported by historical evidence.

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The border dispute intensified in 2020 when the government led by former Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli released a revised political map showing the disputed territories as part of Nepal. India strongly opposed the move at the time, calling it contrary to bilateral understandings aimed at resolving boundary issues peacefully through diplomatic channels. The Lipulekh Pass also carries strategic and religious importance because it serves as a route for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to Tibet, a pilgrimage significant to Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains. Analysts believe the issue is likely to remain a key diplomatic challenge in India-Nepal relations despite both countries expressing willingness for continued talks.

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