File photo of S Jaishankar (L) and Wang Yi.
Moscow: India has categorically asked China to ensure a comprehensive disengagement of troops in all the friction areas in eastern Ladakh, which is necessary to prevent any untoward incident in the future.
India’s foreign minister S Jaishankar met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Thursday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to resolve the border issues prevailing in the Ladakh region.
The meeting lasted two and half hours.
According to Indian sources privy to the meeting between the two top diplomats, the Indian side highlighted its strong concern at the massing of Chinese troops with equipment along the line of actual control (LAC). The presence of such large concentration of troops was not in accordance with the 1993 and 1996 agreements and created flash points along the LAC, India told China
“The Chinese side has not provided a credible explanation for this deployment,” they said, adding, “The provocative behavior of Chinese frontline troops at numerous points along the LAC also showed Beijing’s disregard for bilateral agreements and protocols.”
They added that Indian side clearly conveyed that it expected full adherence to all agreements on management of border areas and would not countenance any attempt to change the status quo unilaterally. “It was also emphasized that the Indian troops had scrupulously followed all agreements and protocols pertaining to the management of the border areas.”
Jaishankar also underlined that since the resumption of ambassador-level relations in 1976 and holding of boundary talks since 1981, India-China relations have developed on a largely positive trajectory.
During the meeting, the Indian foreign minister said, “While there have been incidents from time to time, peace and tranquility has largely prevailed in the border areas. As a result, India-China cooperation also developed in a broad range of domains, giving the relationship a more substantive character.”
While the Indian side recognized that a solution to the boundary question required time and effort, it was also clear that the maintenance of peace and tranquility on the border areas was essential to the forward development of ties.
The sources said, “The recent incidents in eastern Ladakh, however, inevitably impacted the development of the bilateral relationship. Therefore, an urgent resolution of the current situation was in the interest of both nations.”
At the end of their discussions, the ministers reached an agreement on five points that will guide their approach to the current situation.
