Must respect LAC, past pacts, EAM S Jaishankar tells China

Ajay Banerjee

New Delhi, July 25

India on Thursday told China that “disturbance to peace and tranquillity” along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) had cast a shadow on the ties between the two countries for the past four years. Both sides today stressed “urgency” in resolving the ongoing military stand-off along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Vientiane, Laos, on the sidelines of the ASEAN-related foreign ministers’ meetings. “It is in our mutual interests to stabilise ties and focus on growth and development. It requires us to approach our immediate issues with a sense of purpose and urgency,” Jaishankar told Wang.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Jaishankar told Wang that “our endeavour is to complete talks and ensure that there is full respect for the LAC and the agreements that we have signed in the past”.

The meeting gave the two ministers an opportunity to review the situation since their last meeting at Astana, Kazakhstan, on July 4.

“Their talks focused on finding an early resolution to the remaining issues along the LAC to stabilise and rebuild bilateral relations,” the MEA said. Both ministers agreed to the need for working with purpose and urgency to achieve complete disengagement at the earliest, said the MEA. They felt peace and tranquillity on the border and respect for the LAC were essential for normalcy in bilateral relations.

Jaishankar stressed the need for mutual respect, interest and sensitivity to ensure better ties.