Nepal never had any objection over India constructing a road till the Lipulekh pass in Uttrakahand to ensure smooth ride of pilgrims to Kailash Mansarovar, Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane said on Friday on Kathmandu's recent displeasure over the development at the border.

He, however, pointed out that if Nepal is raising the issue, it is doing so at 'someone else's behest'.

Naravane said there has never been an issue about road at the tri-junction -- India-China-Nepal. Nepal has started protesting after India opened a road till Lipulekh pass on May 8.

The Indian Army Chief did not name China, but he hinted that Beijing was the only interested party to it.

The assertion was made by Naravane during a discussion on "Covid and Indian Army: Responses and Beyond" at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in Delhi.

It was Vice Admiral Sekhar Sinha (retd) who asked why was Nepal protesting on "our road" across Lipulekh and why had it decided to set up a border post at the spot.

To this, the Army Chief said, "We have made a road west of the Kali river. Nepal has accepted that its territory is to the east of Kali river. There has never been an issue about the tri-junction," Naravane said.