- By Vaidika Thapa
- Thu, 07 May 2026 07:00 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
India on Thursday said that it is ready to hold talks with Nepal over the long-running border issue related to the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that India remains open to dialogue and has already explained its position clearly. It pointed out that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has been using this route since 1954 and said there is no fresh development.
India Ready To Talk
Addressing a weekly press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India has already made its position clear on the Lipulekh issue. He stated that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has been taking place through this route since 1954 and there is nothing new in the current situation. When asked again about the issue, Jaiswal said that if Nepal raises the Lipulekh dispute, India is ready to hold talks with them through diplomatic channels.
He said, “We have already made a statement. This is not new, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has been happening since 1954 through this route. That is where it stands. It is not a new development, and I would refer you to the statement issued by us for more details.”
VIDEO | On the Lipulekh issue, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, “We have already made a statement. This is not new, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has been happening since 1954 through this route. That is where it stands. It is not a new development, and I would refer you to… pic.twitter.com/L33tHsGevp
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 7, 2026
Lipulekh Border Dispute Back In Focus
The row has started again after Nepal, recently renewed its claim over Lipulekh Pass. Kathmandu says that the area belongs to Nepal and that it should have been consulted before India and China agreed to use the route for the pilgrimage (Kailash Mansarovar Yatra). Nepal's foreign ministry has also said that it wants talks with India to resolve the matter peacefully, but it continues to maintain its territorial claim.
What's The Dispute?
Notably, the dispute is not new and has been going on for years. Nepal had earlier released a revised political map in 2020 showing Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura as part of its territory. India had strongly rejected this claim, saying it is not based on historical facts and goes against earlier understandings that border issues should be resolved through dialogue.
The main issue between the two countries is over where the boundary lies in this Himalayan region. While Nepal argues that under the Sugauli Treaty of 1816, these areas belong to it, India maintains that the regions are part of its territory in Uttarakhand. The Treaty, which defined the boundary of Nepal, was signed on 4 March 1816 between the East India Company and Guru Gajraj Mishra after the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814-1816.
Both sides have exchanged objections over the years, while also expressing willingness to continue talks.