India has reiterated that restoration of peace and tranquility in the border areas will be essential for the overall development of bilateral relations between the two countries

In view of continued intransigence of Chinese PLA troops in eastern Ladakh despite several rounds of military and diplomatic-level talks, India has once again reminded China that “complete disengagement requires redeployment of troops by each side towards their regular posts on the respective side of the Line of Actual Control.”

On Thursday, China’s Defence Ministry spokesperson Colonel Wu Qian’s made a scathing comment, stating that India should “bear in mind the big picture of bilateral ties and putting the border issue in an appropriate position in this big picture, avoid misjudgment, keep divergences from escalating into disputes, and take concrete steps to bring the bilateral relations back to the right track of development.”

Responding to it, External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, “Last week, during the 18th meeting of WMCC, the two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on the existing situation on the border areas. Both sides reaffirmed that they will continue to sincerely work towards disengagement of troops along the LAC in the western sector in accordance with agreements reached between the two foreign ministers and the two Special Representatives during the conversation of July 5, 2020.”

He further added that complete disengagement requires “mutually agreed reciprocal actions.” To drive home India’s point of view, the MEA spokesperson maintained that “full restoration of peace and tranquility in the border areas would be essential for the overall development of bilateral relations.”

The MEA spokesperson also referred to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s recent interview to a news portal wherein he talked about various past border incidents which were resolved through diplomacy. In that interview, Jaishankar had said, “When it comes to finding a solution, this must be predicted on honouring all agreements and understandings. And not attempting to alter the status quo unilaterally…That is why we tell the Chinese side clearly that peace and tranquility in the border areas are the basis for the relationship.”

He had also said that the situation in eastern Ladakh is the most serious since the 1962 War.