War, in general, and more so particularly when most of the economies, including China and India, are severely reeling under the devastating effects of the global pandemic, would be prohibitively costly for both the countries. (AP Photo: Manish Swarup, File)India-China Border News Live Updates: The Indian Army Tuesday released a statement saying China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had confirmed that five youth from Arunachal Pradesh who went missing three days ago were found on their side and the formalities for their early transfer was being coordinated. Union minister Kiren Rijiju also confirmed that the missing youths from Arunachal Pradesh have been found by the Chinese side.
The Indian Army Tuesday said at no stage had it “transgressed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) or resorted to use of any aggressive means, including firing”. The statement by Army spokesperson Col Aman Anand was issued hours after the People’s Liberation Army of China claimed Indian troops had fired warning shots, prompting it to “take counter-measures to stabilise the situation on the ground” at Pangong Tso in Ladakh.
The Indian Army said it was PLA troops who “were attempting to close-in with one of our forward positions along the LAC”, but when dissuaded, had “fired a few rounds in the air in an attempt to intimidate (Indian) troops”. The statement added that “despite the grave provocation, (Indian) troops exercised great restraint and behaved in a mature and responsible manner”.
The PLA statement late Monday night came days after Indian troops thwarted Chinese manoeuvres and occupied strategic heights on the south bank of Pangong Tso and Rechin La. Colonel Zhang Shuili, spokesperson for the PLA Western Theatre Command, claimed the Indian Army “crossed the line and entered Bangong Hunan, the western section of the Sino-Indian border” and the “Indian actions seriously violated the relevant agreements and agreements between China and India, pushing up regional tensions, and easily causing misunderstandings and misjudgments.”
An Indian Army soldier keeps guard atop his vehicle as a convoy moves on the Srinagar-Ladakh highway at Gagangeer on Tuesday, September 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
Indian Army statement on release of five Arunanchal youths: "As a result of persistent efforts of Indian Army five missing hunters from Indian side of LAC in Upper Subansiri, who had inadvertently crossed over to other side on 02 Sept 2020, were traced. Chinese Army on 08 Sept responded on Hotline and confirmed that the missing Indians have been found on their side. Formalities for their early transfer is being coordinated with the Chinese Army," said Lt Col Harsh Wardhan Pande, PRO Defence, Tezpur.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju Tuesday said China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had confirmed that five youth from Arunachal Pradesh who went missing three days ago were found on their side. Rijiju also said the modalities of the handover process of the youths were being worked out.
“China’s PLA has responded to the hotline message sent by the Indian Army. They have confirmed that the missing youths from Arunachal Pradesh have been found by their side,” Rijiju said in a tweet.
Asked how he saw the future of the India-China relationship, Jaishankar said that “this is one area my crystal ball is a little clouded”.
He said he would leave it “open-ended” and both countries “must try to find mutual accommodation, because their ability to do that will determine (if there’s) an Asian century or not”.
Asked what was a tangible diplomatic marker to signal movement forward in the negotiations, he said: “(I have) a very practical issue right now, which is the issue of disengagement and de-escalation.” Read more
Last week Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Chinese counterpart General Wei Fenghe had met in Moscow, on the sidelines of the meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Group’s member states, to discuss the standoff that had begun in early May. The meeting did not result in a positive outcome. Singh told the Chinese to “work with the Indian side for complete disengagement at the earliest from all friction areas including Pangong Lake as well as de-escalation in border areas in accordance with the bilateral agreements and protocols”. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is likely to met China’s Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi later this week, again in Moscow. READ FULL STORY
The recent flare off comes amid heightened tensions after the Indian Army had moved to occupy certain ridges and passes in the Chushul sector, pre-empting the Chinese troops, in an operation between 29 August and 31 August. Exactly a week ago, Indian troops occupied strategic heights on the south bank of Pangong Tso and Rechin La, giving them a commanding view of the terrain in the Chushul sector. Troops can keep an eye on China’s Moldo garrison and prevent any attempt to ingress via the Spanggur Gap. With the occupation of these heights, the Indians hope to make the Chinese return to the disengagement talks table. The PLA has been reluctant to step back from the north bank of Pangong Tso and Gogra Post after agreeing to total disengagement.
The Chushul sub-sector has come into focus in the standoff between the Indian and PLA troops following the movement that took place on the intervening night of August 29 and 30. What is the Chushul sub-sector and why is it important? What are the challenges in this area? Manraj Grewal Sharma explains
"The Indian Army is committed to maintaining peace and tranquility, however is also determined to protect national integrity and sovereignty at all costs. The statement by the Western Theatre Command is an attempt to mislead their domestic and international audience," a statement issued by Indian Army spokesperson Col Aman Anand read.
The Indian Army statement reads: "It is the PLA that has been blatantly violating agreements and carrying out aggressive manoeuvres, while engagement at military, diplomatic and political level is in progress. In the instant case on 07 September 2020, it was the PLA troops who were attempting to close-in with one of our forward positions along the LAC and when dissuaded by own troops, PLA troops fired a few rounds in the air in an attempt to intimidate own troops. However, despite the grave provocation, own troops exercised great restraint and behaved in a mature and responsible manner."
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In a statement issued Tuesday, the Indian Army said, "At no stage has the Indian Army transgressed across the LAC or resorted to use of any aggressive means, including firing." The statement by Army spokesperson Col Aman Anand was issued hours after the People’s Liberation Army of China claimed Indian troops had fired warning shots, prompting it to “take counter-measures to stabilise the situation on the ground” at Pangong Tso in Ladakh.
On Monday, the funeral of Nyima Tenzin, a soldier of the Special Frontier Force (SFF), was held in Leh. While there have been reports about SFF being involved in the August 29-31 operation to occupy previously unoccupied heights in Chushul sector in eastern Ladakh, the Army has so far maintained an official silence. Sources have said Tenzin was on a patrol when he stepped on a landmine dating back to the 1962 war, and was killed. This is the first time the SSF, a secretive force, has been so much in the public eye.
So, what is the Special Frontier Force (SFF)? Are SFF units part of the Army? What was the SFF’s role in 1971 war? What other major operations have SFF units taken part in? Man Aman Singh Chhina and Krishn Kaushik answer all your questions
BJP general secretary Ram Madhav attended the funeral of Subedar Nyima Tenzin of the Special Frontier Force, a covert Indian unit, comprising mostly of Tibetans in India, tasked to carry out classified missions. Nyima died on August 30 when he stepped on a vintage mine near the south bank of Pangong Tso, according to Army sources. While the government or the Army has not commented on the death of Nyima, the presence of Madhav, a senior member of the ruling party, at the funeral in Leh will rile the Chinese given that the Vikas regiments of the SFF largely comprise Tibetans in India.
Madhav told The Indian Express: “Let the sacrifices of such valiant soldiers bring peace along the Indo-Tibetan border. That will be the real tribute to all these martyrs.” Read Krishn Kaushik's report
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Monday acknowledged that the current situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) was "very serious," and said that it called for "very, very deep conversations" between India and China at a "political level". Jaishankar, speaking at Express Adda, said "the state of the border cannot be delinked from the state of the relationship." Read more on the interaction here
Late Monday night, the People’s Liberation Army of China released a statement claiming Indian troops had fired warning shots, prompting it to “take counter-measures to stabilise the situation on the ground” at Pangong Tso in Ladakh. The statement came days after Indian troops thwarted Chinese manoeuvres and occupied strategic heights on the south bank of Pangong Tso and Rechin La. Neither the Indian Army nor the Ministry of Defence have responded to the statement. Read more here