Nepal objects to India-China trade through Lipu Lekh Pass , Pg16

Key Highlights:

• Nepal's PM K.P. Sharma Oli met Chinese President Xi Jinping and voiced strong objection to India-China trade through Lipu Lekh Pass.
• Nepal asserts Lipu Lekh as its sovereign territory, referencing the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli.
• The objection was raised following the August 18 agreement between India and China to restart border trade through Himalayan passes, including Lipu Lekh.
• Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai reiterated Nepal's claim that the area east of the Mahakali river belongs to Nepal.

Detailed Insights:

• The Lipu Lekh Pass is a tri-junction between India, Nepal, and China, holding strategic importance for trade and connectivity.
• Nepal's claim is based on the Treaty of Sugauli, which defines the Mahakali River as its western border with India.
• India maintains that Lipu Lekh is within its territory, a claim that has led to border disputes and diplomatic tensions with Nepal.
• Nepal has applied for membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), seeking to enhance its regional role.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Treaty of Sugauli: A treaty signed in 1816 between the East India Company and Nepal, defining Nepal's boundaries.
• Sovereign Territory: An area over which a state has supreme authority.
• Tri-junction: A place where the boundaries of three countries meet.