India-China trade via Lipulekh Pass set to restart
Border commerce between China and India through the Lipulekh Pass is scheduled to resume this month after a six-year suspension caused by COVID-19 restrictions, marking its return following operations that began again under Chinese leadership in 2024 despite earlier bans imposed during border skirmishes with Nepal's RSP government.
Key Points
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1A long-simmering border dispute between Nepal and India has resurfaced involving the Kalapani–Lipulekh area, posing an early diplomatic challenge for RSP's incoming government.
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2Border trade with China via Lipulekh Pass is set to resume this June after a six-year suspension since 2019 caused by COVID-19 and border skirmishes in Pithoragarh district.
Developments
Nepal's incoming Rastriya Swatantra Party government faces an early diplomatic challenge as preparations resume for trade through the disputed Kalapani–Lipulekh Pass following a six-year hiatus. This move stems from agreements reached between India and China in August 2025, which cleared multiple border points including Lipulekh despite Nepal's consistent claim that the area is within its territory.
Border trade via Lipulekh Pass is expected to resume this year after a six-year suspension caused by border tensions in 2019-2023, following approval from Indian ministries including Foreign Affairs and Commerce. Preparations for the June–September session are underway with coordinated support involving transit camps, banking services, security measures, and designated customs procedures on both sides of Himalayan route
Border trade through Nepal-India-China border passes is set to resume this June following a six-year pause caused by COVID and skirmishes, after India issued an NOC for Himalayan Passes in Pithoragarh. The resumption aims to allow traders access to goods stored since 2019 at the Lipulekh pass site despite ongoing territorial disputes involving Nepal's claims over Kalapani-Limpiyadhura areas which Beijing has recently aligned with India on its official map of Indian territory
Border trade through India's Lipulekh Pass will resume this year after a six-year suspension following Union government directives and clearances from key ministries. Preparations for the June–September session include coordinating with Chinese counterparts, establishing transit camps, deploying security forces, and ensuring banking services to allow traders in Pithoragarh access to goods stored since 2019.