New Delhi, May 7 — India on Thursday restated its stance on the Lipulekh pass and the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, rejecting objections from Nepal and saying claims of a unilateral, artificial enlargement of territory are incorrect. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal underlined that the route used for the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage has been in use since 1954 and is not a new development. He referred journalists to the ministry’s earlier statement and said India has clearly said the allegation of unilateral alteration of the boundary is not correct.
Jaiswal emphasized that New Delhi remains willing to engage with Kathmandu, including on boundary matters, but warned that making unilateral claims is not the appropriate way to proceed. He reiterated that India is open to discussions and constructive interaction on bilateral issues.
Responding to reports about a possible government-to-government fertiliser agreement with Nepal, Jaiswal noted the wide-ranging nature of India–Nepal ties and ongoing exchanges. He said cooperation already covers areas such as energy and oil, and that India intends to strengthen relations and meet Nepal’s needs for fertiliser supplies as required.
Last Sunday, India formally rejected Nepal’s territorial claims over Lipulekh, describing unilateral attempts to enlarge territory as untenable and asserting that those claims were not supported by historical facts and evidence. The ministry reiterated its readiness for constructive dialogue with Nepal to address bilateral concerns.
