An Indian army convoy moves on the Srinagar-Ladakh highway at Gagangeer, north-east of Srinagar, India, on 17 June 2020. File photo/AP/Mukhtar Khan
By Ashok Sharma | AP
NEW DELHI, India, 14 August 2020
India urged China on Friday to expedite the complete disengagement of troops from border areas in eastern Ladakh, where thousands of soldiers from the two countries have remained in a tense standoff since May.
External Affairs Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said some progress has been made following several meetings between the two sides.
“While we would like the ongoing process to be competed at the earliest, it is important to bear in mind that achieving this requires agreed action by both sides,” he told reporters.
There was no immediate reaction from the Chinese government.
He said India expected the Chinese side to “sincerely work with it toward the objective of complete disengagement and deescalation and full restoration of peace and tranquility in border areas.”
Twenty Indian soldiers died in a 15 June clash when personnel from the two sides attacked each other with rocks, clubs and fists in the Galwan Valley, in the deadliest violence between the countries in 45 years. China has not said whether it suffered any casualties in the clash.
The Galwan Valley is part of a remote stretch of the 3,380-kilometre (2,100-mile) Line of Actual Control established after a 1962 border war which also spilled into Ladakh.
An Indian defence ministry report earlier this month said the standoff is likely to be prolonged because the situation in eastern Ladakh “continues to be sensitive and requiring close monitoring and prompt action based on the evolving situation.”
Indian officials said the standoff that culminated in the deadly clash began in early May when large contingents of Chinese soldiers entered deep inside Indian-controlled territory at three places in Ladakh, erecting tents.
India and China have been trying to settle their border dispute since the early 1990s, without success.
The Chinese are in no mood to move from the occupied area. It was pre-meditated to occupy the strategic high ground at Pangong Tso. The Chinese use of language said it all. They were using words to the effect that “if India can meet half the way” etc. The Chinese language was couched with insincerity.
They grab others land and then camp there with military hard ware to guard them and then say, we will negotiate. The military wares and the large military contingent is to drive home to the victim, either you accept our position or else. This is their tactic to steal and occupy other people’s lands.
India has no other option than attempt to evict them through military force sparking war with China or hold on to put pressure for the Chinese to vacate. That China has no intention to move was made clear by their ambassador in Delhi saying India was responsible for the clash which is an absolute lie.
If India doesn’t stand up and defend its territory, the Chinese will continue to gobble long into the future until the whole of India is gobbled up like Tibet. It’s not a nice thing to say but all this is in fact karma catching up with their abject treatment of the Tibetan people.
Out of selfish motivation to buy peace with communist China, India sold out Tibet to China by accepting baseless Chinese claims to Tibet. It’s leaders were more sympathetic to Chinese communists than the Tibetan people.
The Indian leaders never considered the dire consequences for India’s National security. Their vision was so myopic, they only saw cunning Chinese smiles, their sumptuous noodle soups and Peking duck served with much opulence and lip trembling platitudes.
Now, India faces two extremely hostile neighbours in the west and north who are iron-brothers.