New Delhi: India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday clarified the government’s position on the alleged ongoing face-off with Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops in Arunachal Pradesh. The matter came to light after reports emerged quoting ITBP Director General Shatrughan Kapoor that a confrontation-like situation with the PLA was continuing.
The Ministry of External Affairs stated that the Ministry of Defence should be contacted for specific details. The Ministry also stated that the situation in the India-China border areas is occasionally affected when Chinese troops engage in activities that deviate from established patrolling patterns.
According to the MEA, both countries are using existing diplomatic and military mechanisms to resolve outstanding issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and avoid misunderstandings or miscalculations. Both sides also agreed to discuss enhancing understanding of the LAC in appropriate areas to improve border management.
The Ministry stressed that maintaining peace and stability in the border areas is crucial for the overall development of India-China relations.
Kharge demands response from PM Modi
The ITBP Director General’s alleged statement has also sparked a political controversy. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi clarify his position on the matter.
Kharge said that reports confirming the ongoing face-off with the PLA in Arunachal Pradesh are extremely worrying. He questioned whether another serious confrontation is emerging after Doklam and Galwan.
The Congress President claimed that reports of Chinese incursions near Taksing had emerged in August. He also questioned why reports of the alleged confrontation were still surfacing 47 days after the Corps Commander-level talks in Wacha-Damai. According to him, this area is approximately 180 kilometers from the alleged incident site.
Kharge asked whether India’s patrolling access has been affected and why the country is not being fully informed on a sensitive issue like Arunachal Pradesh. He stated that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India.
Questions raised about the outcome of India-China talks
Kharge also questioned the effectiveness of diplomatic efforts. He noted that there have been at least 23 meetings and talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, 25 rounds of Special Representatives’ talks involving National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, 36 meetings of the WMCC, and consecutive SCO and BRICS summits.
He questioned what concrete results have been achieved from all these meetings and talks, and whether India’s patrolling rights prior to May 2020 have been fully restored.
Expressing full confidence in the Indian Armed Forces, Kharge said that accountability is essential in matters of national security. He urged Prime Minister Modi to provide complete information to Parliament and the nation instead of attacking the opposition.
Special Representatives’ talks held in Beijing in August
The 25th round of Special Representatives’ talks on the border dispute between India and China was held in Beijing on August 25. At the meeting, both sides reiterated their commitment to follow the guidance provided by their respective leaders, maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas, and create a conducive environment for the stable development of bilateral relations.
The two countries also committed to advancing discussions on the framework for the settlement of the border dispute in accordance with the Agreement on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for the Settlement of the India-China Boundary Question signed in 2005. The aim is to reach a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable solution.
The meeting also agreed that any situation arising along the border will be resolved expeditiously through existing diplomatic and military channels, including the WMCC, local commander-level meetings, and other agreed mechanisms, to resolve outstanding issues and avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations along the LAC.