Binoo Joshi
Jammu, July 6:
Facts have come out as to how the concrete action taken by National Security Advsor Ajit Doval after PM’s visit to Ladakh brought in sight the picture of complete de-escalation and disengagement along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh .
Doval’s conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday committing to the restoration of peace and tranquility in the border became prelude to the withdrawal of troops on Monday.
Most significant point, however, was that there also was an affirmation neither side will take any unilateral action to alter the things that may disturb the peace.
Everything becomes quite clear by the release issued by Ministry of external Affairs on Monday afternoongiving details of the conversation and its major points that not only broke the ice but also started the long-awaited process of disengagement.
The release opened with the paragraph saying that how the special representative mechanism was put in place . It read : “The Special Representatives of India and China on the Boundary Question Ajit Doval, National Security Advisor of India Wang Yi, State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China had a telephone conversation” on Sunday
The two Special Representatives had “ a frank and in-depth exchange of views on the recent developments in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas, “it said.
The two Special Representatives agreed that both sides should take guidance from the consensus of the leaders that maintenance of peace and tranquility in the India-China border areas was essential for the further development of our bilateral relations and that two sides should not allow differences to become disputes”
“Therefore, they agreed that it was necessary to ensure at the earliest complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC and de-escalation from India-China border areas for full restoration of peace and tranquility.
In this regard they further agreed that both sides should complete the ongoing disengagement process along the LAC expeditiously. The two sides should also ensure a phased and stepwise de-escalation in the India-China border areas.
They re-affirmed that both sides should strictly respect and observe the line of actual control and should not take any unilateral action to alter the status quo and work together to avoid any incident in the future that could disturb peace and tranquility in border areas”
The release also mentioned that the two Special representatives agreed that the diplomatic and military officials of the two sides should continue their discussions, including under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China border affairs (WMCC), and implement the understandings reached in a timely manner to achieve the above outcomes. It was also agreed that the two Special Representatives will continue their conversations to ensure full and enduring restoration of peace and tranquility in the India-China border areas in accordance with the bilateral agreements and protocols
