India-China: “We will remember the soldiers’ families, loved ones, and communities as they grieve,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted
New Delhi, June 19:
The US has conveyed it condolences to India after 20 soldiers laid down their lives in stopping Chinese aggression in eastern Ladakh on Monday.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the people of India for the lives lost as a result of the recent confrontation with China. We will remember the soldiers’ families, loved ones, and communities as they grieve,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted.
Several leaders in the US have spoken out against China’s posturing along the Line of Actual Control.
A top American senator has said the Chinese army seems to have instigated the violent face-off for the “sake of grabbing territory”, news agency Press Trust of India reported. “On land, for the sake of grabbing territory, the PLA appears to have instigated the most violent clash between China and India since those nations went to war in 1962,” senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said in a major foreign policy speech on the floor of the house.
In his speech, China topped the list of countries, threatening the interest of the US and its allies.
“Needless to say, the rest of the world has watched with grave concern this violent exchange between two nuclear states. We are encouraging de-escalation and hoping for peace,” Mr McConnell said.
“But the world could not have received a clearer reminder that China is dead-set on brutalizing people within their own borders, challenging and remaking the international order anew in their image to include literally redrawing the world map,” he said.
Seventy-six soldiers of the army, who were injured during the clash with Chinese troops, are at various hospitals, army officials have told NDTV. None of them are critical at the moment and all of them should be able to get back on duty, the officials said.
Of the injured soldiers, 18 are at the hospital in Leh who are expected at their posts within 15 days. The remaining 56 are spread across other hospitals, who can join work in a week, the officials said.
The violent face-off on Monday evening started after Indian troops, led by Colonel BK Santosh Babu, tried to remove a tent belonging to Chinese troops from Indian territory.
