Nepal Lodges Formal Protest Against India Over Long-Running Border Dispute

A long-standing border dispute between Nepal and India flared up again on May 4, 2026, when Kathmandu’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs lodged a formal protest against New Delhi over India’s resumption of a religious pilgrimage through a contested Himalayan pass.

Core of the Dispute

The dispute centers on the Lipulekh Pass, situated at the tri-junction of Nepal, India, and Tibet. Nepal claims sovereignty over the pass based on the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli, which it signed with the British East India Company.

India, meanwhile, reached an agreement with China to resume the Kailash Manasarovar pilgrimage route through the pass. The pilgrimage is one of the most challenging in the world due to the high altitudes of the Himalayas, difficult terrain, and often severe weather conditions.

Nepal’s Position

In its protest statement, Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that India’s unilateral resumption of the pilgrimage infringes upon Nepal’s territorial sovereignty. Kathmandu emphasized that any activity crossing the Lipulekh Pass must receive prior approval from the Nepalese government.

The sovereignty issue over the pass has long been a sensitive topic in Nepal. A previous Indian map revision that included the Lipulekh area within Indian territory had sparked mass protests across Nepal.

Regional Implications

The dispute has potential implications for the geopolitical landscape of South Asia. Nepal has long maintained a delicate diplomatic balance between India and China, and the Lipulekh Pass sits precisely at the intersection of these three political entities.

India’s agreement with China on the pilgrimage route may be perceived as having bypassed Kathmandu’s position on Nepalese territory. This has sparked renewed discussion within Nepal about national sovereignty and the influence of regional powers.

The Real-World Significance of the Pilgrimage

The Kailash Manasarovar pilgrimage holds deep religious significance for both Hindu and Buddhist devotees. Thousands of pilgrims make the journey to the sacred Tibetan mountain each year. Resuming the pilgrimage route is an important event for India’s religious community, but Nepal maintains that religious activities should not override territorial sovereignty.

Analysts note that in the current geopolitical environment, Nepal must carefully manage its relationship with both neighbors, and the question of Lipulekh Pass ownership is unlikely to be fundamentally resolved in the near term.

Source: Al Jazeera