China has agreed in principle to reopen the Shipki-La pass in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district for border trade with India, according to the Himachal Pradesh government. The development came following discussions between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the latter’s recent visit to India.
The Shipki-La trade route, part of the ancient Silk Route, has been suspended since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. New Delhi has now initiated talks with Beijing on restoring traditional trade through three designated points: Shipki-La in Himachal Pradesh, Lipulekh in Uttarakhand, and Nathu La in Sikkim. The Himachal Pradesh government said efforts to restore trade links through Shipki-La had received a positive response from China, marking progress toward resuming cross-border economic activity.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had written to the Union government, urging the revival of Indo-Tibetan trade through Shipki-La. Following this request, the matter was formally raised with China, leading to the breakthrough. The state government said it would now approach the Union Commerce Ministry to complete the required formalities before trade resumed.
The Shipki-La pass was designated as a border trade point under the 1994 India-China bilateral agreement. The Himachal government pointed out that the route had always been crucial to trans-Himalayan trade and cultural exchanges. The state has an extant road link leading to Shipki-La via Rampur Bushahr and Pooh, which officials mentioned would make the setup of base camps and supporting infrastructure practical as soon as the route is reopened.
In addition to facilitating trade, the Himachal Pradesh government also reported a positive response from Beijing on resuming the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Shipki-La. The route, which connects via Gartok towards Darchen and Mansarovar, is shorter on the Tibetan side compared with existing routes. Authorities believe this could provide a practical option for pilgrims once conditions are finalized.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, in a letter to the Himachal chief minister, confirmed that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra had already resumed after a five-year gap through Lipulekh in Uttarakhand and Nathu La in Sikkim. Talks are continuing with China to include Shipki-La as an additional route for the pilgrimage.
The Himachal Pradesh government has expressed hope that the reopening of the Shipki-La pass will revive ancient cross-border trade and open new avenues of tourism, cultural interactions, and local economic development.