External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar (file photo)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said work on disengagement of troops on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh has been completed. Emphasis must now be placed on reducing tension between the two countries. He made this comment at the HT Leadership Summit. Jaishankar saw this military withdrawal only as a process of disengagement and refused to accept it as a sign of return to the old form of bilateral relations. He said it is reasonable to expect some improvement in relations after the troops withdraw.
Last month, an agreement was reached between India and China on the withdrawal of troops from the Demchok and Depsang areas. Both sides also resumed patrol activities after the dispute that lasted more than four years. Jaishankar said that with the final agreement between the two countries on October 21, this process has also been completed. He further said that now the next important step should be to reduce tension on the Line of Actual Control.
What did Jaishankar say about India-China?
On India-China relations, Jaishankar said that relations between the two countries depend on many factors. In response to a question, he said different branches of the government may have different views on China, but the Foreign Ministry prepares a policy that balances all views. However, he also said it would not be appropriate to consider any view as a political decision.
Not only this, Jaishankar also spoke about India-US relations. He said projects like the India-US Initiative related to important and emerging technology are unlikely to be affected by the new US government. He said that the United States, which is the number one power in the world, has to remain connected globally. However, your preferences and conditions may change.
‘The path of dialogue is the only permanent solution to the war between Russia and Ukraine’
Jaishankar clarified India’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He said the solution cannot be found on the battlefield and India was striving to maintain cordial talks between the two sides. He also said that India’s objective is to bring both countries on a platform of dialogue, because only the path of dialogue can bring a permanent solution.
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