Road through disputed territory: India rejects Nepal’s claim

India yesterday rejected Nepal's claim that a road recently opened for facilitating pilgrims' travel to Kailash-Manasarovar in Tibet passes through Nepalese territory and asserted that the area lies completely within Indian borders.

The high-altitude road from Dharchula to Lipulekh in Uttarakhand state of India near the China border, which cuts distance to Mansarovar by ten km, was inaugurated by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday last.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

On Saturday, Nepal's Foreign Ministry came out with a statement that "the government of Nepal has learnt with regret about the inauguration yesterday by India of a link road connecting to Lipulek (Nepal) passing through it."

"The unilateral act runs against the understanding reached between the two countries," the statement added.

"The government of Nepal remains committed to seek diplomatic solution to the boundary issues on the basis of historical treaty, documents, facts and maps in keeping with the spirit of close and friendly ties between the two countries."

Responding to Nepal's contention, Anurag Srivastava, spokesperson for the Indian External Affairs Ministry, said on Saturday that "the recently-inaugurated road section in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand (in India) lies completely within the territory of India.

"The road follows the pre-existing route used by the pilgrims of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Under the present project, the same road has been made pliable for the ease and convenience of pilgrims," he said.

The news of the inauguration of the road prompted protests by students in Kathmandu, including one in front of the Indian Embassy in New Delhi.