Prakash Kafle / Kathmandu: Nepal has begun preparations to resume border trade between India and China via Lipulekh-Bhunjyang after six years. According to Indian officials, the necessary arrangements have already started under the direction of the central government for the trade session scheduled from June to September.
The Lipulekh area is a sensitive region located at the tri-junction of Nepal, India, and China. Nepal has historically claimed sovereign rights over this area based on historical evidence. The issue became more prominent especially in 2020, when the Nepalese government released a new political and administrative map including the Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani regions.
However, due to the lack of an official public stance from the Nepalese government on such a sensitive matter, questions have started emerging at different levels. From social media to civil society, there is growing concern: “Why is the government silent when foreign activity is taking place on our land?”
Meanwhile, figures such as Rabi Lamichhane, president of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, and Balen Shah, the Prime Minister, have also been criticized for not taking a clear stance, causing dissatisfaction among their supporters. Some people have demanded that all political leadership unite to raise their voice on matters tied to national pride.
Local citizens and the general public are pressuring the government to take diplomatic action, expressing that “it is unacceptable for foreign activities to occur on our land.” Experts say Nepal needs to adopt a clear diplomatic strategy immediately and engage in dialogue with both India and China.
The preparations to reopen the Lipulekh trade route have sparked a new debate in Nepal–India–China trilateral relations, bringing issues of national pride and border security back to the forefront.
लिपुलेकबाट भारत–चीन व्यापार पुनः सुरु तयारी: नेपाल मौन किन? जनस्तरमा असन्तोष चुलिँदै
