India says “immediate task” for China is disengagement of troops in all friction areas

New Delhi: The talks have been held but the Indian side was categorical in its assertion with China and made it clear that there would be no kid-gloves diplomacy anymore.

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has done some plain speaking at the much talked about meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the side-lines of the SCO conclave at Moscow and said Beijing must ensure “full adherence to all agreements” of border management.

“The 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,” sources told ‘Organiser’.

The Chinese side was categorically told that the immediate task is to ensure a comprehensive disengagement of troops in all the friction areas. “That is necessary to prevent any untoward incident in the future”, sources in Indian government said.

A Chinese statement also had conciliatory tone and there was a ‘visible change’ as there no mention of the phrase that “responsibility for the crisis lay entirely with India”. This is one line, Beijing has been pushing lately.

A Chinese source said, Wang Yi stressed that as two large developing countries “emerging rapidly”, both the countries required cooperation and mutual trust and no confrontation. At the end, both sides agreed for a five-point Joint Statement “that will guide” the approach from both to the current situation.

The Indian side, according to sources, also said, the “provocative behaviour” of Chinese frontline troops at numerous incidents of friction along the LAC also showed disregard for bilateral agreements and protocols.

A Joint Statement issued at the end of the meeting said the two Foreign Ministers agreed that the current situation in the border areas “is not in the interest of either side”. They agreed therefore that the border troops of both sides should continue their dialogue, quickly disengage, maintain proper distance and ease tensions.

The two Ministers agreed that both sides shall abide by all the existing agreements and protocol on China-India boundary affairs, maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas and avoid any action that could escalate matters. The two sides also agreed to continue to have dialogue and communication through the Special Representative mechanism on the India-China boundary question. They also agreed in this context that the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China border affairs (WMCC), should also continue its meetings.

The Ministers agreed that as the situation eases, the two sides should expedite work to conclude new Confidence Building Measures to maintain and enhance peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

Sources also said that from New Delhi’s point of view, it was also emphasised that the Indian troops had “scrupulously followed all agreements and protocols” pertaining to the management of the border areas.

The meeting comes on the backdrop that the Indian Army have lately ‘further strengthened and enhanced its dominance’ over a number of strategic heights overlooking key Chinese-held positions around Pangong lake area in eastern Ladakh. Additional reinforcements have also been made in hill tops and strategic locations around Pangong Lake. Of course in the meantime, there have been brigade commanders and commanding officers of the two militaries held separate talks to cool tensions in the region.

Earlier, the External Affairs Minister also met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in the presence of Russian Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow at the Russia-India China (RIC) format and all three Ministers exchanged views on ‘further strengthening’ of Russia-India-China trilateral cooperation.