An Indian legislator has accused Chinese troops of abducting five Indian nationals near the disputed border between the two countries.
According to the BBC, Tapir Gao of Arunachal Pradesh made the claim in a tweet on Saturday, though he did not give further details.
The news agency reported that the Indian military has now sent a message to its Chinese counterparts to inquire into the alleged abduction.
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A convoy of Indian troops operates reinforcement and supplies on the highway bordering China in Gagangir, India on September 2nd. (Getty Images)
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told the BBC that Beijing “has no details of the break-up yet”, but also that “so-called” Arunachal Pradesh “, China’s southern Tibet region, has not been recognized.
Tensions between the two countries have risen on the disputed border in the far west in the Ladakh region, which boasts the world’s highest landing strip and glaciers that feed the world’s largest irrigation system.
The situation escalated dramatically in June when both sides fought with clubs, stones and fists, killing 20 Indian soldiers and injuring dozens. China has not reported any casualties.
India and China have held several rounds of talks – mainly involving military commanders – in the hope of resolving tensions, but without much success.
Last week, India said its troops had twice thwarted a ‘provocative’ move by the Chinese military. In return, the Chinese Defense Ministry accused Indian troops of crossing the established lines and inciting provocations on the border.
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The two nations fought a border war in 1962 which also erupted in Ladakh and ended in a delicate battle. Since then, troops from both sides have been patrolling and guarding the precarious border area, according to protocols carried out by both countries, including not using weapons against each other.
India unilaterally declared Ladakh a federal territory and separated it from Kashmir in August 2019, ending its semi-autonomous status. China was among the countries to condemn the escalating move in international fora, including the UN Security Council.
The Associated Press contributes to this report.
