Border situation with China under control: Gen Naravane

NEPAL GIVES LEGAL BACKING TO DISPUTED MAP, INDIA OBJECTS

Disengagement of Indian and Chinese forces is taking place in a “phased manner” along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC), where the situation is “under control,” Indian Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane said on Saturday.

His first comments on the disengagement that began after top Indian and Chinese military commanders met last week came during an interaction with reporters on the sidelines of the passing out parade at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.

“I would like to assure everyone that the situation along our border with China is under control,” said Naravane even as India and China continue diplomatic and military engagements for an early resolution of the stand-off between border troops.

The army chief said: “Both sides are disengaging in a phased manner. We have started from the north, from the area of the Galwan river, where a lot of disengagement has taken place”.

Nepal’s Parliament on Saturday passed a constitutional amendment to give legal backing to a map depicting disputed areas such as Lipulekh as Nepalese territory, prompting India to say such “artificial enlargement of claims” violates an understanding to resolve boundary issues through talks.

On Saturday afternoon, the House of Representatives or lower house of Nepal’s Parliament unanimously adopted the constitutional

Naravane’s comments are significant as the government has largely been tight-lipped on the ongoing border scrap with China.

“It’s good that diplomatic and military engagement is working and things are showing signs of amendment bill for including the country’s new political map in the national emblem. This map, cleared by the KP Sharma Oli government on May 20, depicts Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura as part of Nepal.

All 258 members of the 275-strong House of Representatives present in the lower house voted for the bill. The bill is now set to be taken up by the National Assembly or upper house next week, where its passage is considered to be a formality. improving,” said former Northern Army commander Lieutenant General BS Jaswal (retd). The Udhampur-based Northern Command is responsible for guarding the LAC in the northern sector.