Latest news with #2024DisengagementAgreement
Mint
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Mint
'De-escalation, border management': Rajnath Singh chalks 4-point roadmap to end India's dispute with China
India's defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday, met with his Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun, and chalked out a four-point roadmap to end India's dispute with China. During the talks, India and China's defence ministers agreed to continue consultations to achieve progress on "disengagement, de-escalation, border management and eventual de-limitation", as per an official statement. Rajnath Singh and Admiral Dong Jun met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting in Qingdao, which marks the first high-level military engagement since India and China concluded the disengagement process at Demchok and Depsang Plains in October 2024. From strict adherence to the 2024 Disengagement Agreement to focusing on border management, here's a look at India's 4-point roadmap: 1. Adherence to 2024 Disengagement Agreement: Both nations are expected to fully implement the disengagement agreement signed in October 2024, particularly at the remaining friction points in Eastern Ladakh, including Demchok and Depsang. 2. Ongoing De-escalation efforts: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasised the need for sustained efforts to reduce tensions and prevent any future incidents along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). 3. Demarcation and delimitation: Rajnath Singh also urged for expedited talks to finalise the boundary demarcation process. "Singh also stressed on border management and to have a permanent solution of border demarcation by rejuvenating the established mechanism on the issue," the government statement mentioned, referring to the border talks process between the Asian giants. 4. Bridging the Trust deficit: During his meeting with Admiral Dong, Rajnath Singh also called for bridging the trust deficit created after the 2020 standoff, India said in its statement. The SCO defence ministers, however, were unable to adopt a joint statement at the end of their meeting due to a lack of consensus on referring to "terrorism", India stated. Sharing a photo on X after the meeting, Rajnath Singh emphasised the importance of maintaining the "positive momentum" in India-China diplomatic relations. He also expressed happiness over the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which has restarted after nearly six years. India and China share a 3, 800 km largely undemarcated and disputed border in the Himalayas and have gone to war over it. Following the border standoff in eastern Ladakh, India has consistently maintained that peace and stability along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) are essential for normalising overall ties with China. The standoff began in May 2020, with a deadly clash in the Galwan Valley in June that year leading to a sharp deterioration in bilateral relations. The face-off effectively ended following the completion of the disengagement process from Demchok and Depsang's last two friction points under an agreement finalised on October 21.
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First Post
7 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
What is the 4-pronged approach Rajnath Singh shared with China for better ties?
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday met his Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's meeting of defence ministers. The Indian leader, sharing a four-pronged approach with Dong for better ties, said both countries should seek a 'permanent solution' to the border dispute read more On Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met his Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's meeting of defence ministers. Rajnath, sharing a four-pronged approach with Dong for better ties, said both countries should seek a 'permanent solution' to the border dispute. India and China share a 3,800-kilometre border in the Himalayas. This is the highest-level dialogue between the countries in months. 'Held talks with Admiral Don Jun, the Defence Minister of China, on the sidelines of SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting in Qingdao. We had a constructive and forward looking exchange of views on issues pertaining to bilateral relations,' Rajnath wrote on social media. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The meeting came after India on Thursday refused to sign the SCO document because its concerns over terrorism were not taken into consideration. The MEA's Randhir Jaiswal said India's concerns were 'not acceptable to one particular country.' But what do we know about the four-pronged approach Rajnath shared with Dong? Let's take a closer look: The four-pronged approach Following the 2024 Disengagement Agreement to the letter: Rajnath said both sides must strictly follow the agreement to disengage at the border signed in October. The agreement covers the sensitive points in Eastern Ladakh including Demchok and Depsang. Continue efforts to de-escalate : Rajnath said that the efforts to de-escalate and at the border and avoid any new issues along the Line of Actual Control must continue apace. Accelerated efforts to demarcate and delimit: Rajnath also called for efforts at demarcating and delimiting the border to be sped up. He called for a permanent solution to be found by revitalising the existing mechanism. Bridging trust deficit: Rajnath also said that the trust gap since the Galwan clash and the border stand-off needs to be bridged. He called for cooperation to reach get the 'best mutual benefits' and stability in Asia and the world. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held bilateral talks with Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. X - @rajnathsingh India and China previously met at a high-level to work on the disengagement process at Demchok and Depsang Plains in October 2024. That development came after intense negotiations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting President Xi Jinping meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October 2023. The SCO is a 10-nation Eurasian security and political grouping whose members include China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and Iran. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Their defence ministers' meeting was held as a precursor to the annual summit of its leaders set for the autumn. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra set to resume Rajnath also said that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra – which had been suspended since COVID-19 pandemic and then the Galwan Valley clash in 2020 – is set to resume. This is a gesture from both sides 'Expressed my happiness on restarting of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after a gap of nearly six years. It is incumbent on both the sides to maintain this positive momentum and avoid adding new complexities in the bilateral relationship,' Rajnath wrote on X. Rajnath also presented a Madhubani painting from Bihar to Dong. The painting, which comes from the Mithila region, is known for its line drawings filled in with bright colours and contrasts or patterns. These paintings are popular because of their tribal motifs and use of bright earthy colours.
NDTV
9 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Demarcation, Delimitation At Borders: India Shares 4-Point Plan With China
New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday met his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting in Qingdao. The bilateral conversation, India's highest-level military dialogue with China in recent months, centred around maintaining peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and charting a roadmap for long-term border stability. A Four-Point Roadmap During the meeting, Mr Singh proposed a four-point plan designed to prevent further deterioration in India-China relations: 1. Strict Adherence to the 2024 Disengagement Agreement: Both sides are expected to honour and implement the disengagement pact signed in October last year, covering the remaining friction points in Eastern Ladakh, particularly Demchok and Depsang. 2. De-escalation Measures: Mr Singh called for continuous efforts to de-escalate tensions and avoid any flare-ups along the LAC. 3. Demarcation and Delimitation: Mr Singh urged for fast-tracked negotiations towards finalising the boundary delineation process. " Mr Singh stressed on border management and to have a permanent solution of border demarcation by rejuvenating the established mechanism on the issue," a government statement read. 4. Addressing Trust Deficit: The Defence Minister stressed the need to create good neighbourly conditions to achieve the "best mutual benefits" as well as to cooperate for stability in Asia and the world. He also called for bridging the "trust deficit" created after the 2020 border standoff. This dialogue marks the first high-level military engagement since India and China concluded the disengagement process at Demchok and Depsang Plains in October 2024. That agreement was the outcome of intense negotiations, culminating in the October 23 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping meeting in Kazan on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. The meeting coincided with the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after a nearly six-year suspension. Originally halted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later extended due to the border standoff, the pilgrimage to the Tibet Autonomous Region was viewed by both sides as a symbolic gesture towards normalisation. Terrorism and Pakistan Mr Singh also raised the issue of cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan, particularly referencing the April 22 attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam which left 26 people dead. Mr Singh briefed his Chinese counterpart on Operation Sindoor, India's counter-terrorism campaign aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan. Mr Singh refused to sign the joint SCO Defence Ministers' declaration that omitted any reference to terrorism or the Pahalgam attack. India viewed the exclusion as a deliberate attempt to downplay terrorism in the region. The final text of the SCO document instead made reference to Balochistan, which New Delhi interpreted as a veiled accusation.
