Sharp reactions are emerging from Nepal’s party leaders and others regarding the India-China agreement on reopening of the border trade via Lipulekh Pass.

India and China on Tuesday decided to reopen three traditional border trade routes—Lipulekh, Shipki La, and Nathu La—during the 24th round of the Special Representatives’ dialogue on the boundary in New Delhi between India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The foreign ministries of India and China issued separate statements on the decision.

Responding to media queries on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed that the official map of Nepal, as incorporated in the Constitution of Nepal, includes Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani—located to the east of the Mahakali River—as integral parts of Nepal.

“It is well known that the government of Nepal has consistently urged the government of India not to carry out any activities such as road construction/expansion or border trade in that area. The fact that the area is Nepali territory has also been communicated to China,” said the statement.

In the spirit of close and friendly relations between Nepal and India, the government of Nepal remains committed to resolving the boundary issue through diplomacy, based on historical treaties and agreements, facts, maps, and evidence, the statement added.

On Wednesday night, India's Ministry of External Affairs responded to the statement issued by the foreign ministry and stated that trade through the Lipulekh Pass has existed for decades.

“We have noted the comments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal related to the resumption of border trade between India and China through the Lipulekh Pass,” said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs. “Our position in this regard has been consistent and clear. Border trade between India and China through Lipulekh pass commenced in 1954 and has been going on for decades.”

The spokesperson said the trade had been disrupted in recent years due to Covid and other developments, and both sides had now agreed to resume it.

On Nepal’s territorial claims, Jaiswal said they are “neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence,” and described them as “untenable.”

India said it remains open to “constructive interaction” with Nepal on outstanding boundary issues through dialogue and diplomacy.

Party leaders across the spectrum have also voiced opposition to the agreement and urged the government to take up the matter with India and China with due priority.

Two general secretaries of Nepali Congress, Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma, issued separate statements on Thursday and called for protest against the latest India-China agreement.

Speaking during the special session of the House of Representatives on Thursday, Thapa said that all political parties must unite to oppose the bilateral trade agreement, which involves the Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani regions east of the Mahakali River. Our party will not accept this agreement,” Thapa said.

“We read and heard that an agreement was reached regarding our territory. The Nepali Congress expresses serious disagreement with the behavior of our two neighboring countries,” he said.

Thapa stated that all political parties must stand together on this issue and send a unified message to both neighboring countries. “On behalf of the Nepali Congress, I urge everyone to come together.”

“Let us also not lean towards aggressive nationalism. We must stand united and send a clear message: any attempt to encroach upon our territory is unacceptable, and Nepal will oppose it.”

Similarly, CPN-UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula, speaking in Parliament, stated that the agreement to open cross-border trade on Nepali land without informing Nepal is unacceptable.

Bartaula said, “Lipulekh and Kalapani are parts of Nepal. Any agreement to conduct trade across Nepali land without Nepal’s consent, participation, or knowledge is unacceptable. We strongly oppose it.”

Bartaula said, “Regardless of a country’s size in terms of geography, economy, or population, no nation is smaller or greater when it comes to sovereignty and dignity. We will strongly oppose and resist any act that undermines the independence and sovereignty of our country.”

He also urged the government to resolve the dispute through diplomacy.

Another general secretary of the Nepali Congress, Sharma urged the government to convene an all-party meeting involving all stakeholders to develop a unified stance on the Lipulekh issue.

“The prime minister should raise the issue of Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani during his upcoming [China and India] visits,” Sharma wrote on social media platform X while giving a six-point suggestion to the government.

“It is necessary to bring both our neighbors on board based on historical facts.”

Sharma also urged the government to send diplomatic notes to both India and China regarding the agreement, while recalling similar notes sent in 2015.

“Nepal should propose that the prime ministers of both countries should receive the report prepared seven years ago by the Eminent Persons Group (EPG)—formed with mutual agreement between Nepal and India for intellectual input on bilateral borders and relations—and use it as a basis for resolving not only this but other related issues as well,” said Sharma.

The main opposition, CPN (Maoist Centre) demanded an answer from the government on the latest India-China agreement on Lipulekh pass.

Speaking in the House of Representatives on Thursday, the party’s chief whip, Hitraj Pandey, drew Speaker Devraj Ghimire’s attention to the need for the government to provide necessary information to Parliament on this issue.

He said, “Our party is seriously concerned by the news that our two neighboring friendly nations, China and India, have reached an agreement to open bilateral trade through the Lipulekh Pass without even informing Nepal.” He also urged the government to resolve this matter through diplomatic means.

Pandey added, “Protecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity is the primary responsibility of the government. We urge the government to take effective and proactive diplomatic initiatives in this matter. We call on the government to stand firmly in defense of our sovereignty and to advance diplomatic and political efforts with both neighboring countries through effective diplomatic measures.”

He also appealed to all citizens to unite in defense of Nepal’s national interest.

Senior Vice-chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre) and former foreign minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha termed the agreement between India and China objectionable and deeply regrettable.

Shrestha stated that the fact that China has agreed to an agreement regarding the disputed territory—an area even India has acknowledged as contentious—without Nepal’s knowledge or consent, and that such agreements between India and China have occurred repeatedly, has left Nepal and the Nepali people shocked and stunned.

On Thursday, in a Facebook post, Shrestha stated that based on historical facts and evidence, Nepal has consistently asserted that Limpiyadhura, Kalapani, and Lipulekh are parts of its territory.

He wrote, “Although India has not yet readily accepted this claim, it has acknowledged the area as disputed during talks with Nepal and agreed to resolve the matter through discussions within a bilateral mechanism at the foreign secretary level.”

Shrestha recalled that when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China in 2015 and both countries decided in Beijing to use the Lipulekh Pass as a trade route between India and China, Nepal had immediately expressed its disagreement and objection. At the time, Nepal had sent diplomatic notes to both countries requesting them to rectify the decision.

“Despite that,” he said, “India and China have now repeated the same mistake—disregarding the concerns of Nepal, a neighboring and friendly country located between them, and severely undermining the sovereignty, dignity, and goodwill of the Nepali people.”

He further emphasized, “It is shocking and astonishing for Nepal and the Nepali people that China has agreed to such an arrangement without Nepal’s knowledge and consent—especially regarding a territory Nepal has claimed as its own based on historical evidence, and which even India has acknowledged as disputed. We strongly urge both friendly neighboring nations to recognise the seriousness and sensitivity of this matter and to correct this action.”

Former deputy prime minister and foreign minister Kamal Thapa stated that India itself had acknowledged Lipulekh and Kalapani as disputed territories and had adopted a policy of resolving the matter through dialogue.

“Ignoring this fact, India and China have repeatedly reached agreements— without Nepal’s consent—to carry out movement and trade via Lipulekh, which lies at a tri-junction point between the three countries. Nepal has consistently raised this issue with both India and China through diplomatic channels. However, the continued neglect of Nepal’s legitimate and internationally recognised claim by both neighboring countries is objectionable. This is an attack on Nepal’s sovereignty,” Thapa wrote on Facebook.