New Delhi (NVI): India today said that the core issue with respect to its border stand-off with China is that both sides need to strictly follow various bilateral agreements and protocols in their entirety, including the 1993 and 1996 agreement on maintenance of peace and tranquility along the LAC.
The remarks were made by MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava, in response to a query on a US commission report that states that China had planned the Galwan Valley clash.
The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, in the report submitted on December 1, described the nearly eight-month-long India-China standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as the “most severe border crisis in decades”.
According to the report, the Chinese government had planned the clash with Indian troops in Galwan Valley in June, which led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers. China is yet to disclose its casualties. The violent clashes triggered a massive escalation of tension between the two countries.
The MEA spokesman, when asked about the US panel report, referred to the press statement issued by India following the telephonic conversation between the foreign ministers of the two countries in the aftermath of the clashes.
“I would refer you to the press release put out by the Ministry of External Affairs after the conversation between External Affairs Minister and the State Councillor and Foreign Minister of China Mr. Wang Yi on 17 June 2020 in the immediate aftermath of the violent face-off in Galwan Valley on 15 June 2020 where 20 Indian soldiers laid down their lives while protecting India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said.
“I would stress that the core issue remains that both sides need to strictly follow the various bilateral agreements and protocols in their entirety including the 1993 and 1996 agreement on maintenance of peace and tranquility along the LAC in the border areas which require that there should not be amassing of troops, each side should strictly abide by and respect the LAC and should not take any unilateral action to alter it,” he added.
On the present situation on the India-China border and the next round of talks, the MEA spokesman said: “The two sides continue to maintain communication through diplomatic and military channels with the objective of ensuring complete disengagement in all friction points along the LAC in the Western sector and full restoration of peace and tranquility.
“Both sides have agreed to have another round of Senior Commanders meeting at an appropriate time. As and when we have more information, we will share it with you.”
Despite several rounds of diplomatic and military level talks between India and China, the two sides have not arrived at a concrete outcome yet to resolve the situation. Around 50,000 troops of the Indian Army are currently deployed along the LAC, as a mirror deployment against the as many Chinese troops.
The border standoff, that erupted in early May, will soon enter eighth month.
-ARK
