By Lakshmi Thapa

The announcement of the India–China agreement to reopen border trade through Lipulekh Pass has reignited one of the most painful wounds in Nepal’s modern diplomacy. Once again, two powerful neighbors have sat across the table, drawn lines on the map, and signed deals that directly implicate Nepal’s territory, without Nepal even being consulted. This is not a trivial matter of commerce. It is a blatant disregard for Nepal’s sovereignty, a challenge to our territorial integrity, and a dangerous precedent in regional diplomacy.

A Treaty Ignored, A Claim Forgotten

For Nepal, the question of Lipulekh is not a matter of sentiment but of law and history. The 1816 Sugauli Treaty, signed between the East India Company and Nepal, clearly established the Kali River as the western boundary of Nepal. Lipulekh, along with Kalapani and Limpiyadhura, lies east of this river, and therefore belongs to Nepal. Yet, over decades, India has incrementally extended its administrative and military presence in these areas, and China has shown little concern about Nepal’s rightful claim.

Nepal’s government, civil society, and scholars have time and again asserted that these lands belong to Nepal. Our official map, endorsed by Parliament in 2020, includes Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani. When two of our neighbors ignore this reality and proceed with bilateral agreements as if Nepal does not exist, they do more than undermine our claim — they disrespect our sovereignty in the most direct way possible.

A Dangerous Precedent

The reopening of Lipulekh Pass for trade may appear as a modest confidence-building measure between India and China, who have sought to cool down their tensions along the Line of Actual Control. But for Nepal, it signals something deeply troubling: that our territory can be treated as a bargaining chip in larger geopolitical games. Today it is a trade route; tomorrow it could be a military corridor, a transit hub, or something even more strategic. If Nepal does not draw a firm line now, it risks setting a precedent that our borders are negotiable, malleable, and subject to the convenience of others.

Nepal’s Diplomatic Dilemma

To remain silent in the face of such developments is to concede defeat without a fight. Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has often issued carefully worded statements of “concern,” but these have had little impact. Polite diplomatic notes cannot match the weight of two powerful states formalizing agreements. What Nepal needs is clarity, firmness, and persistence.

The government must take the following steps without delay:

Summon the ambassadors of India and China and demand an explanation of why Nepal’s sovereign rights were disregarded.

Raise the issue in Parliament with a strong resolution reaffirming that Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura are inalienable parts of Nepal.

Engage international platforms — from the United Nations to regional forums like SAARC — to make clear that Nepal will not tolerate being sidelined in decisions concerning its land.

Mobilize public opinion at home and abroad, ensuring that the international community understands the historical and legal basis of Nepal’s claim.

Respecting the Sovereignty of Smaller States

This episode also raises a larger question about how powerful countries treat smaller neighbors. India and China may see Lipulekh as a “border trade point,” but for Nepal, it is a matter of sovereignty. Regional stability cannot be built by ignoring the rights of smaller states. True peace and cooperation in South Asia will only be possible if every nation, regardless of size, is respected as an equal stakeholder.

By sidelining Nepal, India and China have damaged trust, not only with Kathmandu but with the people of Nepal who expect their government to defend the nation’s borders. If India and China wish to be seen as responsible regional leaders, they must recognize that agreements over disputed territory cannot be legitimate without the participation of all concerned parties.

A Call to Leadership

The Nepalese people have always valued independence. We are proud to be one of the few nations in South Asia never colonized, a country that has guarded its sovereignty through centuries of geopolitical storms. This heritage obliges our leaders to act with courage and conviction today. Weakness or hesitation will only embolden further encroachments.

Lipulekh is Nepal. It is not negotiable. Our government must speak with one voice, our political parties must set aside petty rivalries, and our diplomacy must project firmness abroad. If our leaders falter, the people of Nepal will remind them of their duty — because sovereignty once surrendered is sovereignty lost forever.

Nepal deserves respect from its neighbors, not as a buffer state, not as a passive observer, but as an equal nation. The time has come to make that clear.

The writer is a freelance journalist based in London.