evidence: The Kalapani area is strategically significant in South Asian diplomacy as it is at the tri-junction between India, Chinese occupied Tibet, and Nepal. Given that Nepal is a "buffer state" between China and India—both countries have power aspirations in the region, with ramifications on the relations between the three, noted eurasiantimes.com May 4. [...] The entirety of the Limpiyadhura-Kalapani-Lipulekh area is under Indian administration as part of Pithoragarh district in the Kumaon Division of the Uttarakhand state. However, Nepal has been claiming it since 1997, saying it lies within its Darchula district, Sudurpashchim Province. [...] This in turn was followed by Nepal’s foreign ministry issuing a counter-statement on Jan 17, reaffirming Kathmandu’s claim over Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani, calling on India to cease unilateral construction or development works in those territories.