Arun Joshi
The dynamics of Indo-China relations are stuck where they were more than four years ago- a standoff situation in eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control is continuing with China refusing to retreat from the points India wanted. It is the longest ever standoff in the military history of India, and despite almost 20 rounds of talks at different levels things are as dangerous and unstable as these were when China violated mutual agreements and advanced its troops to LAC, threatening the existing positions of India in April-May 2020.
The immediate task before the Indian diplomats and the army generals should be to neutralize the standoff along LAC in Ladakh so that the country can get rid of an embarrassing situation on the borders which only depicts limitations vis-à-vis China. In the fifth year of the crisis, the things should be changed so that the nation can retrieve its position on the border.
June 2020- two months after the unilateral Chinese action as it had created a hostile situation in April that year, is the cruelest month that has left a stigma for the Indian nation, when India lost 20 of its soldiers, including a Commanding officer in clashes with Chinese troops on the dizzying heights of Galwan Valley in Himalayas. Though it is not known as yet as to how many Chinese troops lost their lives in those clashes on June15/16, 2020, yet the loss of Indian side is hurting. It’s a blot with which the nation has been living.
That is the military aspect but Galwan inflicted more wounds than the loss of soldiers as the situation has not changed to the point India wanted. Four years is not a small period. It tells that there are gaps in the strategies that could have forced China to respond positively to the Indian arguments and pleas. That there is less talk of Ladakh situation and Galwan Valley trauma doesn’t obliterate the fact that the situation doesn’t exist.
It was evident from S Jaishankar statement given to media after taking over as foreign minister for a second time in Modi 3.0 that “Our focus with regard to China will be on finding a solution for the border issues that still continue.” This is a plain-speaking Diplomatically, S Jaishankar made it clear that there is a border issue with China which has remained unresolved till date – that is when the crisis is in the fifth year and there is no certainty when the things will work to the mutual satisfaction of the two countries. As of today, there appears to be no possibility. China has created a situation for India on the borders and at the same time it is siding with Pakistan on Kashmir.
At the conclusion of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to China, a joint statement released by the two countries made a specific mention of Kashmir. On June 9 when Narendra Modi was taking oath for a record third time as Prime Minister of India, the joint statement of China-Pakistan in Beijing underscored “the importance of peace and stability in South Asia, the need for resolution of all outstanding disputes, and their opposition to any unilateral action. The Pakistani side briefed the Chinese side on the latest developments in Jammu and Kashmir. The Chinese side reiterated that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is left over from history, and should be properly and peacefully resolved in accordance with the UN Charter relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements.”
The statement spoke of unilateral action in reference to Government of India’s revocation of special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and privileges under Article 370 and Article 35 A on August 5, 2019 and the bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories of Ladakh, and J&K. China and Pakistan had issued strong statements in response to the revocation of Article 370 and division of the sate into two federally administered union territories. China had boycotted G 20 summit in Srinagar in May last year saying that “Kashmir is a disputed territory.”
When Chinese and Pakistan interests converge on more than one ways, it is a situation worth pondering. India has been quite aggressive with regard to Pakistan’s cross-border terrorism, it continues to mention the surgical and aerial strikes of 2016 and 2019, but with regard to China it is spending time across table.
In the fifth year of the crisis with China in Ladakh sector, things must change for the credibility of the Indian nation for the people as also the international community. The situation cannot be normal as normal as it should be if China is breathing down the neck in Ladakh.
Disclaimer: This is the personal opinion of the author. The views expressed in this write-up have nothing to do with www.prameyanews.com.
