Kathmandu — In response to the Nepal government’s expression of disagreement over the operation of the India-China transit route through Nepal’s territory via Lipulekh, the Government of India has made its position public. After China and India opened the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage route via Lipulekh, the Nepal government issued a press note on Sunday stating that it had taken note of the matter.

Responding to this, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said that the route to Kailash Mansarovar via Lipulekh is not new but an old one. Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, while claiming that India’s position has always been clear and consistent, “The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Lipulekh Pass is an old route that has been in continuous use since 1954, and this is not a new issue.”