On the agreement between India and China regarding patrolling on LAC, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that withdrawal of troops is the first step. The next step is to reduce stress.
At a press conference in Mumbai on Sunday, the External Affairs Minister said that tensions between the two countries will ease only when India is convinced that China wants the same. After de-escalation of tensions, there will be a discussion on how to manage the border.
Apart from the India-China dispute, Jaishankar also spoke about the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Jaishankar said – India did not give any reply at that time. When we talk about zero tolerance against terrorism, it is clear that when someone does something, he will be answered.
We will not tolerate you doing business by day and terrorism by night and I have to pretend that everything is fine. India will not accept this. This is change.
A day ago, at an event in Pune on Saturday, Jaishankar said that sticking to the Indian government's word has worked. There are two reasons why we have reached where we are today.
First, we did not go back on our words, this was only possible because the army stood firm at every opportunity to protect the country and diplomacy did its job.
Secondly- We have also improved our infrastructure in the last decade.
Jaishankar said – I think that due to these two reasons, the issue of patrolling on the India-China border dispute has been resolved.
Why did Jaishankar say this…
In fact, there has been tension between India and China for four years over the border dispute in eastern Ladakh. After two years of long negotiations, an agreement has recently been reached. Both armies will withdraw from the disputed points of Dapsang and Demchok.
18 October: Information came out of the retreat from Dapsang and Demchok. It was said that from here both armies will return to their previous positions from April 2020. Also, it will patrol the same areas it was patrolling before April 2020. Apart from this, commander level meetings will continue
In 2020, there was tension in Depsang and Demchok after fierce clashes between Indian and Chinese troops. After almost 4 years, a new patrol agreement was signed between the two countries on October 21. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the aim was to prevent Galwan-like clashes in Ladakh and restore the status quo.
October 25: From Friday, October 25, Indian and Chinese armies have begun to withdraw from the eastern Ladakh border. According to news agency ANI, both the armies have removed their temporary tents and sheds at Demchok and Depsang points in eastern Ladakh. Vehicles and military equipment are also being withdrawn.
According to army sources, both countries will completely withdraw their forces from Depsang and Demchok by October 28 and 29. A limited number of soldiers have been assigned for patrolling. Information about what this number is has not yet surfaced.
Now read complete details of India-China border dispute…
No decision has yet been taken on patrolling the Galwan Valley-Gogra hot springs In the agreement, there is agreement on 4 issues under Depsang in Ladakh, but nothing is said about patrolling in Galwan Valley and Gogra Hot Springs in Demchok.
Depsang: According to the Indian Army, soldiers will now be able to go to patrol points 10, 11, 11-A, 12 and 13 in Depsang for patrolling.
Demchok: Patrol Point-14 ie. Galwan Valley, Gogra Hot Springs i.e. PP-15 and PP-17 are buffer zones. Reports quoting sources said patrolling here would be considered later. A buffer zone means a place where the two armies cannot come face to face. This zone separates opposing forces.
From where the armies have moved, from where they are advancing
Indo-China patrol agreement in 3 points
1. The agreement was finalized ahead of PM Narendra Modi's BRICS visit. Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in BRICS. Modi had said here that it is necessary to maintain peace in all circumstances.
2. China and India agreed to restore the status quo in April 2020 along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. This means that now the Chinese army will withdraw from the areas where it has encroached.
3. Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikram Misri said that a proposal has been prepared to resolve issues arising after 2020 with patrolling the border areas of India and China. Both the countries will take steps in this regard.
20 Indian soldiers were martyred in an encounter in Galwan on 15 June 2020.
This image is of a bloody clash between Indian and Chinese troops on 15 June 2020 in the Galwan Valley of Ladakh. After this the dispute between the two countries cooled down.
On 15 June 2020, China deployed troops in the border areas of eastern Ladakh on the pretext of an exercise. After this incidents of infiltration took place in many places.
The Indian government also deployed the same number of troops as China in the area. The situation became so bad that bullets were fired at the LAC.
Meanwhile, on June 15, 20 Indian soldiers were martyred in a clash with the Chinese army in the Galwan Valley. Later India also gave a jaw-dropping reply to this. About 60 Chinese soldiers were killed.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).