Why in news?
At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin in 2025, Nepal’s Prime Minister raised the issue of Lipulekh Pass with Chinese President Xi Jinping, reaffirming Nepal’s territorial claims. Lipulekh Pass has been a flashpoint between India and Nepal for decades.
What is Lipulekh Pass?
Lipulekh is a high‑altitude mountain pass in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, India. Sitting at around 5,334 metres (17,500 feet), it is one of the highest and most strategic Himalayan passes.
Location and features
- Trijunction: The pass lies near the point where the borders of India, Nepal and China (Tibet) meet.
- Trade and pilgrimage: Historically it has been a trade and pilgrimage route linking India with Tibet. It is a gateway for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
- Border trade post: Lipulekh became India’s first formal border trade post with China in 1992, followed by Shipki La in 1994 and Nathu La in 2006.
- Terrain: The region features rugged mountain landscapes and is accessible only during certain months.
Why is it disputed?
India administers Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura as part of Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district. Nepal, however, claims these areas and in 2020 issued a new political map incorporating them. Nepal argues that historical treaties place the Kali River further west, making these territories Nepali. India disputes this interpretation. China engages in trade via Lipulekh but views the territorial dispute as a bilateral issue between India and Nepal.
The Lipulekh dispute underscores the complexities of colonial‑era boundaries in the Himalayas and highlights the need for careful diplomacy to balance economic cooperation with territorial sensitivities.