ON HIGH GROUND
A majority of the respondents approve of how the Centre has handled the face-off with China in Ladakh. Most also think now is not the time to talk with Pakistan
By PRADIP R. SAGAR
Currently, the biggest foreign policy challenge India faces is the stand-off between the Indian Army and the People’s Liberation Army of China along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh and the resultant frosty ties with China. When army chief Gen. Manoj Pande says the situation on the border with China is “stable but unpredictable”, he means that further misadventure by the PLA has been checked by the large-scale deployment of men and military assets. However, the PLA consistently attempts to alter the status quo, like the recent intrusion effort in Tawang. Overall, 17 rounds of corps commander-level talks as well as diplomatic negotiations have failed to bring complete disengagement. So far, dispute over five of seven friction points in eastern Ladakh is resolved.
How has the Centre handled the border intrusions by China? ‘Very well’, say over 50 per cent of the india todayCVoter Mood of the Nation respondents, while 27 per cent say it is ‘satisfactory’. Only 11 per cent believe they were handled poorly. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and some opposition parties have accused the Modi government of hiding facts about China’s intrusion, even saying it has usurped 2,000 sq km of our territory. The Centre refutes the charges. A majority of MOTN respondents believe the Centre. Around 55 per cent believe the Modi government, but 31 per cent do not.
Besides political leadership, the Indian military has also been equipped with the world’s best military platforms and a massive push towards infrastructure development along the LAC. All this is in retaliation to China’s aggressive and unprecedented build-up of men, materiel and infrastructure along the LAC and in rear areas.
Keeping all this in mind, over 54 per cent of the respondents believe that a border war with China is becoming inevitable, while 30 per cent think otherwise.
Since the Galwan clash in June 2020, there have been calls for Indians to boycott Chinese goods. However, India’s imports from China have registered a sharp increase instead. As per Chinese customs data, India-China trade touched an all-time high of $135.98 billion in 2022, while New Delhi’s trade
deficit with Beijing crossed the $100 billion mark for the first time. Over 80 per cent of MOTN respondents believe that India should ban Chinese goods. Only 11 per cent support trade with China.
One of India’s constant foreign policy obstacles is its troubled ties with Pakistan. Recently, in an interview with Dubai-based Al-Arabiya television, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif offered peace talks to India. Pakistan has “learnt its lessons” from wars with India, he said. However, a day later, Sharif’s office added that for talks, India would first have to restore Article 370 in Kashmir. India responded by reiterating its consistent position—for talks, there should be a conducive atmosphere without terrorism. Similar sentiments are shared by respondents, as nearly 53 per cent oppose talks with Pakistan, echoing a similar 56 per cent in August 2022. Only 35 per cent disagree. The Shehbaz Sharif-led government has not differed from the Imran Khan regime in its India policy. However, the February 2021 ceasefire on the LoC has held. But, with unabated support to terror networks in Kashmir, Pakistan continues to wage a ‘proxy war’ against India. ■
78% RESPONDENTS ARE HAPPY WITH MODI GOVERNMENT’S HANDLING OF BORDER INCURSIONS FROM CHINA