India has said it is ready to hold discussions with Nepal over the long-standing dispute linked to the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district. The statement from India came after Nepal once again raised its territorial claim over the region and objected to the use of the pass for the upcoming Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

The latest disagreement began on Sunday when Nepal objected to India and China planning to conduct the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Lipulekh Pass route. Kathmandu claimed that the area belongs to Nepal and said it was not consulted before the pilgrimage route was finalised.

Nepal’s foreign ministry stated that the government had concerns over the route being used without prior discussion with Kathmandu. India strongly rejected the objection and maintained that Nepal’s claims were not acceptable. New Delhi described such claims as “unilateral artificial enlargement” of territory and called them “untenable.”

On Monday, Nepal again repeated its claim over Lipulekh and called for dialogue with India to settle the matter. Nepal government spokesperson Sasmit Pokharel said, “Nepal doesn't intend to enlarge its boundary; the territory belongs to Nepal, and the government has a clear view about this and is committed to its stance.”

Responding to questions during the weekly media briefing on Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had already clarified its position on the issue. He said, “This is not new; the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has been happening since 1954 through this route. This is where it stands. It is not a new development, and I would refer you to the statement issued by us for more details.”

When asked again about Nepal’s objections, Jaiswal stated that India remains willing to discuss the matter if Kathmandu raises it once more. Earlier on Sunday as well, he had said India is open to a “constructive interaction” with Nepal on all issues related to bilateral ties, including pending boundary matters through “dialogue and diplomacy”.

The Lipulekh dispute has remained a sensitive issue between India and Nepal for several years. The matter became more serious in 2020 during the tenure of former Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. At the time, Oli was reportedly facing growing domestic political pressure and criticism over his leadership. The border issue with India became a major political issue during that period.

Later in 2020, Nepal released a new political map that included three Indian territories — Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipulekh — within Nepal’s borders. Nepal argued that these territories belong to the country under the Sugauli Treaty signed in 1816.

India strongly rejected Nepal’s revised map and said the move included parts of Indian territory. The Ministry of External Affairs had then stated, “This unilateral act is not based on historical facts and evidence. It is contrary to the bilateral understanding to resolve the outstanding boundary issues through diplomatic dialogue. Such artificial enlargement of territorial claims will not be accepted by India.”

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has also remained at the centre of the disagreement. The pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake in Tibet holds major religious importance for Hindus, Jains and Buddhists. The Yatra resumed last year after nearly five years as part of efforts by India and China to improve relations.

In August last year, Nepal had also objected to the resumption of trade between India and China through the Lipulekh Pass. Kathmandu had then issued an official statement saying that its map clearly showed Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani, located east of the Mahakali River, as “integral parts of Nepal”.

Nepal’s foreign ministry had also urged India to avoid carrying out any activity in what it described as Nepali territory. India dismissed the remarks and said Nepal’s claims were not supported by facts or historical evidence.

At the time, India’s Ministry of External Affairs had stated that Kathmandu’s claims were “neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence.” India had further added, “Any unilateral artificial engagement of territorial claims is untenable.”

Despite the repeated disagreement over Lipulekh, India has continued to maintain that all pending border matters with Nepal should be resolved through diplomatic talks. Nepal, meanwhile, has also continued to publicly assert its claim over the disputed territories.

The latest developments show that the Lipulekh issue remains an unresolved point in India-Nepal relations. While both countries have repeated their respective positions, New Delhi has signalled that it is still willing to engage in dialogue to address the dispute.