India rejects Nepal’s objection to resumption of border trade with China through Lipulekh Pass

India on Wednesday rejected Nepal’s objection to New Delhi and Beijing resuming trade through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand, stating that Kathmandu’s claims on the territory are “neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence”.

“Any unilateral artificial enlargement of territorial claims is untenable,” said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

Earlier on Wednesday, Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement noting that “the official map of Nepal has been included in the Constitution of Nepal and that the map shows Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani east of the Mahakali River as integral parts of” the country.

“It is also known that the Government of Nepal has been urging the Government of India not to carry out any activities such as road construction/expansion, border trade in the said area,” said Kathmandu. “It is also known that even the friendly country China has been informed that the said area is Nepali territory.”

Nepal was “committed to resolving the border issue between the two countries through diplomatic means on the basis of historical treaties and agreements, facts, maps and evidence”, it added.

The statement came a day after India and China agreed to resume border trade through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand, Shipki La Pass in Himachal Pradesh and Nathu La Pass in Sikkim.

Jaiswal said on Wednesday...

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