Situation in Ladakh 'most serious' for the first time since 1962 war: Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar

New Delhi: – Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar reacted, ‘The situation in Ladakh has become most serious, for the first time since the 1962 war. It is the first time in 45 years that soldiers have been martyred in a conflict, in this region. The military deployment of both countries near the LAC is phenomenal.’ Foreign Minister Jaishankar lashed out that if the border dispute has to be resolved, then unilateral decisions will not help, the Indian demands have to be respected and accepted. Two days ago, Indian Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, had warned that if the political discussions regarding the LAC fail, India will take military action. After that, China has softened its stand and has started talking about cooperating with India.

The tension between the two countries had increased after China martyred 20 Indian soldiers, in the Galwan Valley. India and China increased their deployment in the region and it is claimed that there are nearly 100,000 soldiers, in all, deployed in the region. India has also deployed tanks and fighter jets in the region. In the meantime, many rounds of discussions have been held between the senior military officials from both the countries, but no solution has emerged from these meetings. China, has made major military deployments in the region; it has also avoided withdrawal from the Pangong Tso, Depsang and Finger Cliff region. This Chinese deployment has been exposed in satellite photographs of the region. The Foreign Minister seems to have warned China under these circumstances.

Foreign Minster Jaishankar said while addressing a webinar that the tension between the two countries is at its peak. Since the last three and a half months, there is tension prevailing between India and China, in the Ladakh region. The Foreign Minister pointed out that despite multiple rounds of diplomatic and military discussions, the tension could not be diffused. India-China relations were stained even in the past. But they had been resolved on the diplomatic level. There have been standoffs between the two militaries at Depsang, Chumar and Doklam regions. Every dispute was different. The Foreign Minister said that they too were resolved politically. But the Ladakh dispute is serious and Foreign Minister Jaishankar has linked it directly to the 1962 war. This highlights the seriousness of the tension.

Efforts are being made on diplomatic as well as the military level, to find a solution for the problem. Foreign Minister Jaishankar lashed out at China in clear words ‘If this dispute is to be resolved, all the previous agreements and demands will have to be respected and implemented. Unilateral attempts to change the situation on the LAC should not be made.’ At the same time, Jaishankar said that the Chinese deployment on the border would not be tolerated. Foreign Minister Jaishankar also said that India has delivered a message to China that India will maintain peace on the border based on the bilateral cooperation.

Only two days ago, Defence Chief Bipin Rawat had issued an open warning that the option for military action against China is open, in case the diplomatic talks fail. Following the statement of the Defence Chief, Foreign Minister Jaishankar seems to have increased the pressure in China, even on the political front.