Pullback move complex, won’t allow status quo change: India

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 16

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Army in separate statements today said the disengagement of Indian and Chinese militaries from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) was a “complex process”, hinting at a long-drawn exercise.

The MEA has once again said: “We are fully committed to observing and respecting the LAC. Any unilateral attempt to change the status quo along the LAC is not acceptable.”

“Both sides have agreed at specific points to redeploy towards their regular posts on their respective sides of the LAC. These are mutually agreed reciprocal actions to be taken by both sides. This mutual redeployment should not be misrepresented. There is absolutely no change with respect to India’s position on the LAC,” said MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava.

“The two sides remain committed to the objective of complete disengagement and full restoration of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas.” The two sides will continue their diplomatic and military engagements to achieve these outcomes, said the MEA, amply hinting that it was work in progress.

The Indian Army said: “Process (of disengagement) was intricate and requires constant verification”. “Rebuilding mutual trust after the June 15 clash at the Galwan valley will take time, therefore speedy disengagement may be difficult to achieve,” said a source.

The MEA sought to dispel the impression that the “mutual redeployment” had led to a change in the pre-April situation along the LAC.

Both sides have been engaged in discussions through established diplomatic and military channels to address the situation. The process was given an impetus by two hours of talks between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese State Councillor-cum-Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi on July 5. This was followed by a meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) on July 10.