India to China: Early resolution of crisis in interest of both countries

By Shweta Aggarwal, With the deadlock between India and China on the border in eastern Ladakh deepening, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar conveyed to his Chinese counterpart in the Tajik capital that “a prolongation of the existing situation was not in the interest of either side” and stressed that military commanders should meet to resolve the remaining issues. “It was visibly impacting the relationship in a negative manner,” Mr Jaishankar told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Dushanbe in a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of a SCO ministerial on July 14. The two ministers had a detailed exchange of views on the current situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh and also on other issues related to the overall India-China relations. The meeting lasted for an hour. Calling a spade a spade, Mr Jaishankar conveyed to his Chinese counterpart that “the attempts to change status quo last year that also disregarded commitments under the 1993 and 1996 agreements have inevitably affected ties.” “He emphasized that it was, therefore, in mutual interest that the two sides work towards early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh, while fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols,” said India’s external affairs ministry in a statement. The two ministers agreed to hold another round of the Meeting of Senior Military Commanders at the earliest. They agreed that senior ministers should discuss “all the remaining issues and seek a mutually acceptable solution.” “There was also an understanding that both sides will continue to ensure stability on the ground and neither side will take any unilateral action that could increase tension,” said the external affairs ministry.