Nepal protests India over longstanding border dispute in South Asia

Nepal Expresses Discontent Over India-China Agreement on Religious Pilgrimage Route

A dispute between Nepal and India has escalated after New Delhi announced plans to resume a religious pilgrimage through a contested Himalayan pass. The Nepalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Sunday expressing concerns over the decision, which it claims is an attempt by India to alter its borders.

The Lipulekh Pass, located at the border between Nepal and India, is claimed by Nepal based on the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli, which defined its western border with British colonial India. The Nepalese government maintains that the territories of Limpiadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani are part of Nepal.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has responded to the complaint, stating that the Lipulekh Pass has been used for Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Bon pilgrimages since 1954. According to Indian officials, this is not a new development, but rather a continuation of existing practices.

The dispute reignited when India announced its agreement with China on Thursday, which plans to resume the pilgrimage via the Lipulekh Pass. The route will be used by 500 Hindu pilgrims traveling through the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand and others who will use a separate route through Sikkim.

Source: Al Jazeera