Kathmandu, May 4, 2026 — Nepal on Monday reiterated its claim over the Lipulekh area and called for diplomatic talks with India to settle the dispute, after New Delhi on Sunday rejected Kathmandu’s objections.
India dismissed Nepal’s protest against plans for this year’s Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via the long-established Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand, characterising Nepal’s territorial assertion as a “unilateral artificial enlargement” it finds “untenable.” New Delhi’s response followed a formal statement from Nepal’s Foreign Ministry opposing preparations by India and China for the annual pilgrimage route, saying the area belongs to Nepal.
Government spokesperson and Minister for Education, Science and Technology Sasmit Pokharel told reporters that Kathmandu does not seek to expand its borders but is firm that the territory is Nepali. “The issue needs to be resolved through collaboration and diplomatic dialogue between the two countries,” he said, adding that the Foreign Ministry has already informed India of Nepal’s position by formal letter.
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a pilgrimage important to Hindus, Jains and Buddhists, resumed last year after a nearly five-year suspension as part of efforts to normalise India–China ties. On April 30, India’s Ministry of External Affairs announced the 2026 yatra will run from June to August via two routes: Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and Nathu La in Sikkim.
Kathmandu’s renewed claim and call for bilateral talks underscore continuing sensitivities along the India–Nepal border, as both sides seek a diplomatic way forward.
