Dear Neighbors: Lipu-Lekh Pass is Nepal's Territory

Without consulting Nepal, the Indo-China agreement was signed on 15 March 2015 during the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China to use Lipu-Lekh pass as a trade and transit point, undermining Nepali sovereignty. According to the agreement, article 28 under Trans-border co-operation states the use of Lipu-Lekh pass, Nepal's territory, for trade between the two countries.

• Read Full India-China Agreement of 15 March Here

The historic data shows Lipu-Lekh a part of Nepal bordered to Tibet which is famous for Tourism and Kailash Mansarovar Yatra traverses this pass. Documents from the British Library also proves Lipu-Lekh pass to be a part of Nepal's territory. Lipu-Lekh pass which lies on disputed border of Kalapani is Nepal's territory, which is being used by Indian Army since the Panchayat Government in Nepal, as per the official maps, documents and Nepal-China border treaty signed decades ago.

Lipu-Lekh Pass, Darchula District, Nepal [ Height from sea level: 5334m ]

Lipu-Lekh pass was the first Indian border post to be opened for trade with China in 1992. During Panchayat System, Lipu-Lekh was chosen for Indian Army's residence which is still in control of India. India signed the treaty thinking it to be their own land because 
Nepali politicians don't care about the country's territory.

China's External Ministry officially requested to resolve Nepal-India border dispute on Kalapani in 2001 but now they have signed the agreement without Nepal's representation and consult.

CPN-Maoist committee member Dharmendra Bastola and some politicians from Nepal demanded immediate return and compensation of the Lipu-Lekh, Kalapani territory, captured by Indian Army. Some politicians are united to file case on International Court of Justice if nothing will change through mutual co-operation, diplomacy and understanding.

Speaker of the Constitutional Assembly of Nepal, Subash Nembang, issued ruling to the government on July 1, 2015 that it should clarify the reality of Lipu-Lekh agreement and what has been happening for the modification of the agreement.

India and China must clarify why Lipu-Lekh pass was used for trade on bilateral agreement without Nepal's presence because Lipu-Lekh belongs to Nepal's territory and is a "Tri-Corner" point of Nepal, India and China if considered the present border. But the "Greater Nepal" concept doesn't prove Lipu-Lekh a Tri-Corner rather it is a border between China and Nepal. Not only Lipu-Lekh, from Tista to Kangra is Nepal, the real border of our country.