The Indian side last week told China that its troops need to vacate the intrusions in the Pangong area and elsewhere and nothing short of restoration of pre-May 5 status quo will do. India conveyed its strong position in the last round of talks between Indian and Chinese military commanders.
The long discussions were held, as were previous exchanges, in a cordial manner but the Indian messaging was insistent and underlined that a Chinese pullback is simply non-negotiable. The tonality of the conversation would not leave any doubt on this score, said a source.
While official statements point to the complicated and time-consuming verification process for disengagement, Indian commanders put across their bottom line unambiguously in the course of the talks with the Chinese official.
The position on Depsang, which China claims to be within its side of the LAC, is similar. The Indian view is that the Chinese must sit down and discuss where the LAC lies and avoid provocative acts. “It cannot be that neither the line is discussed nor is there an end to intrusions,” said the source.
Indian forces buttressed the discussions with a significant exercise demonstrating “application of integrated combined force in high altitude terrain” in the presence of defence minister Rajnath Singh. The intent was to demonstrate that Indian capacities in the region now pack a punch.
The unsaid signal to China is evident: That India will not shirk from use of force - and is in fact very well prepared in this respect - as it seeks restoration of status quo ante. The readiness to use military muscle comes even as India pursues a negotiated easing of tensions along the LAC.
The Indian position, said an official, has found support internationally. The operational and intelligence cooperation from friendly nations has considerable value and points to China’s current isolation, said officials.
Won’t allow anyone to grab land: Rajnath
No force in the world can grab Indian territory, asserted India's defence minister Rajnath Singh while addressing troops last week at the west bank of Pangong Tso, around 40 km from where Indian and Chinese militaries are in a stand-off in eastern Ladakh.
In comments during a visit that included a tour of forward areas in Ladakh where he witnessed combat drills with the latest weapon systems and platforms inducted by the armed forces, Rajnath said, “Talks are under way (with China) to resolve the border dispute…it should be resolved. But to what extent it can be resolved, I cannot guarantee. But let me assure you that no power in the world can either touch or capture even one inch of Indian territory.”
His remarks came at the inland lake, the north bank of which is the site of Chinese intrusions in the mountainous spurs - Fingers 4 to 8.
The minister, accompanied by Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and Army chief General M M Naravane, said there would be nothing better than finding a solution through the diplomatic and military talks that were under way. Referring to the 20 Indian soldiers who were killed in the bloody skirmish with PLA troops in Galwan Valley on June 15, Singh said their sacrifice and bravery will not go in vain. “India is a country that has neither attacked any other nation, nor occupied anyone else’s territory. Our character has been that we have never tried to hurt the self-respect and dignity of any country. But if anyone tries to hurt the self-respect of India, we will not tolerate it and give a befitting reply,” he said.
