Rajnath Singh said that India had never accepted China’s unjustified claims on the land of India.
Reflexes
- India and China have reached a disengagement agreement in Ladakh
- “Both parties will withdraw in a gradual and verified manner”: Rajnath Singh
- India would not allow an inch of its territory to be taken, he said.
New Delhi:
India and China reached an agreement on disengagement at Pangong Tso in Ladakh, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said today in parliament, giving details of a breakthrough after a protracted clash and several rounds of talks between military commanders and diplomats.
“Our talks with China have led to an agreement on the disengagement on the north and south shores of Lake Pangong. Following this agreement, India-China will phase out advanced deployments in a coordinated and phased manner,” the defense minister said in his statement in the Rajya Sabha.
“I want to assure this House that in these talks we have not conceded anything,” he said. “The agreement that we have been able to reach with the Chinese side for the disconnection in the Pangong Lake area provides that both parties will cease their advanced deployments in a phased, coordinated and verified manner.”
Singh said that the Chinese would maintain their troop presence in the North Bank area east of Finger 8 and that Indian troops would be based on their permanent base at Dhan Singh Thapa Post near Finger 3.
Both parties would take similar action at South Bank.
“These are mutual and reciprocal steps and any structures that have been built by both parties since April 2020 in the North and South Bank area will be removed and the landforms will be restored,” he said.
The minister said both sides also agreed to a moratorium on military activities at North Bank, including patrolling, in traditional areas. The patrol would resume when both sides reached an agreement in diplomatic and military talks.
The disengagement began yesterday on the north and south banks of Pangong Lake and would “substantially restore” the situation before the fighting began last year, the minister said.
Mr. Singh said that there are still some unfinished business about deployment and patrolling at some other points throughout LAC in eastern Ladakh and these would be the focus of future discussions.
“We have agreed that both sides should achieve full disengagement as soon as possible and fully comply with bilateral agreements and protocols. By now, the Chinese side is also fully aware of our determination,” he said, praising the soldiers who had shown courage. and determination. in extremely harsh conditions in Ladakh.
Singh said that India had never accepted China’s unwarranted claims and would not allow an inch of its territory to be taken.
“Pakistan has illegally ceded India’s land to China, and we do not recognize such an arrangement. China also claims a large area of India’s land, and we have never accepted such unjustified claims,” he said.
“In Ladakh too, China moved unilaterally, and India has ensured and will continue to ensure that our sovereignty is maintained. After China moved a large number of troops to LAC, against our agreements, India has also made large-scale arrangements. and there has been an increase in troops to safeguard our interests. “
In November last year, high-level government sources said that a disengagement plan had been prepared, but that there was no agreement to implement it. That plan included both sides withdrawing armor (tanks and armored personnel carriers) from near the LAC.
Tensions between India and China resurfaced in May last year with a series of skirmishes in the Pangong Lake region. The dispute escalated on June 14, when 20 Indian soldiers died for the country in a physical confrontation in the Galwan Valley.
Since then, there have been several rounds of talks to resolve the confrontation.
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