India tells China to stick to its side, says no soldier missing
Countries hold ‘long discussion’ on defusing border tensions, agree to hold further talks
India on Thursday asked China to restrict its activities to its side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) while rubbishing Chinese claims of sovereignty over Galwan Valley, even as the Indian Army said that no soldier was “missing in action” after the violent brawl of June 15.
Indian and Chinese delegations, led by major generals, met on Thursday near Patrol Point 14 in Galway Valley as part of military engagements to defuse tensions on the disputed border. This was the seventh meeting between Major General Abhijit Bapat, commander of Karubased headquarters 3 Infantry Division, and his Chinese counterpart since the stand-off began in early May, and the third after Monday night’s clash that left 20 Indian soldiers dead.
“The two sides had a long discussion on the border situation after the clash. They agreed to hold more talks in the coming days. These talks will be held at different levels,” an Indian Army official said on condition of anonymity.
Amid the continuing contacts via military and diplomatic channels, India asked the Chinese side to limit its activities to its side of the LAC – a significant move following external affairs minister S Jaishankar’s assertion during a phone conversation with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Wednesday, that Chinese troops entered the Indian side in Galwan Valley and sought to erect a structure.
“Given its responsible approach to border management, India is very clear that all its activities are always within the Indian side of the LAC. We expect the Chinese side to also confine its activities to its side of the LAC,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava told a weekly media briefing.
Earlier in the day, Srivastava dismissed the Chinese military’s claim of sovereignty over Galwan Valley, which is at the heart of the stand-off.
He pointed to the June 6 agreement reached at a meeting of senior military commanders for de-escalation and disengagement along the LAC, and said: “Making exaggerated and untenable claims is contrary to this understanding.”
After the clash of June 15, a statement in Mandarin issued by the Western Command of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said: “The sovereignty of the Galwan River Valley has always been ours.”
The Indian Army also asserted that no soldiers were missing in action after the June 15 brawl in Galwan Valley.
WASHINGTON/NEWDELHI: India was on Thursday elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council with 184 of the 192 votes polled as officials said solutions to the Covid-19 crisis, reforms of multilateral systems, and enhanced counter-terror cooperation will be focus areas of the two-year term beginning in 2021.
India was the endorsed candidate of the Asia-Pacific Group of UN member countries and faced no competition in the elections, whose results were announced early on Thursday (Indian time). Afghanistan withdrew in India’s favour in 2013 and the votes secured by India were much higher than the minimum threshold of a two-thirds majority or 128 votes.
The elections were conducted by secret ballot, and people familiar with developments said Pakistan was among the eight countries that did not vote for India. The people, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted the overwhelming number of votes received by India indicated Arab and Muslim countries were not swayed by Pakistan’s campaign opposing India’s candidature.
“Deeply grateful for the overwhelming support shown by the global community for India’s membership of the @UN Security Council. India will work with all member countries to promote global peace, security, resilience and equity,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.
“We have received overwhelming support and I’m deeply humbled by the tremendous confidence which the member states of the United Nations have reposed in India,” T S Tirumurti, India’s permanent representative to the UN, said in a message.
Officials said the strong support for India demonstrated the goodwill the country enjoys. This will be the eighth time India will be serving in the Security Council. Vikas Swarup, secretary (West) in the external affairs ministry, said finding innovative and inclusive solutions to the Covid-19 crisis, reforming multilateral forums and organisations, including the UN, and enhancing counterterror cooperation will be focus areas for India during its stint.
“We will act as a voice of reason and moderation and a firm believer in respect for international law and peaceful settlement of disputes,” he told a media briefing.
Swarup refused to speculate about the eight countries that did not vote for India, saying: “Focus on the 184 – this reflects an almost universal acceptance, the most widespread support possible.”
He said one of India’s main priorities is enhancing counterterrorism action by the UN Security Council.
During its last stint in the body in 2011-12, India had chaired the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee and brought in the concept of zero tolerance for terror. He added that India will also work for the finalisation of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism it had proposed in 1996.
Rajiv Bhatia, a distinguished fellow for foreign policy studies at Gateway House, said India should play a calibrated role in the UN Security Council instead of creating unnecessarily high expectations.
“We have to be happy and satisfied with the election result and not euphoric. The global geopolitical situation is very complex. If we think we can push reforms in a big way by sitting in the UN Security Council, that would be unrealistic,” he said.
THE STRONG SUPPORT DEMONSTRATED THE GOODWILL INDIA ENJOYS. THIS WILL BE THE EIGHTH TIME INDIA WILL BE SERVING IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL