After reports of China having constructed roads just 48 kilometres away from Siachen into the Indian border near Aghil Pass and entered the lower Shaksgam valley of Indian Jammu and Kashmir, India has reportedly lodged strong protests. Media reports indicate that satellite images showed the Chinese road approaching Aghil Pass and were moving towards the Siachen Glacier.
Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson addressing a question during a weekly media briefing said, “As far as the Shaksgam valley is concerned, we consider it as our own territory, our own area. We have never accepted the so-called China-Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963, through which Pakistan unlawfully attempted to cede the area to China; and we have consistently conveyed our rejection of the same. We have registered a protest with the Chinese government, the Chinese side against attempts to alter the ground reality. We further reserve the right to take necessary measures to safeguard our interests”. There has been no reaction from the Chinese side so far to Indian protests and none can be anticipated.
Arunachal Pradesh governor and former Commander of India's Northern Command dual tasked to face China and Pakistan, Lt General K T Parnaik (retd) called for a review of the agreements with China for maintaining peace and tranquility on the border as the present protocols suited the PLA.
"We have a peculiar situation with (existing) agreements and protocols mainly framed to suit the PLA, with no settlement of boundary cartographic invasions and an invisible non-designated line to defend," Lt-Gen Parnaik said. "With 'No Use of Weapons', we are disadvantaged along LAC. Frequent PLA intrusions violating the agreements is a critical and sensitive issue that needs a firm sense of reciprocity and leverage, whether (through) a 'Quad' as part of diplomatic/strategic partnership or a tactical 'QPQ' (quid pro quo) in an unmarked boundary situation," he added as per a report in the Week.
Gen Parnaik was speaking at the second edition of the “Lieutenant General PS Bhagat Memorial Lecture”
Despite the firm statement and if followed up by the Ministries concerned the External Affairs and Defence the Chinese are unlikely to agree to a review of the four agreements which have been violated in principle and practice since April 2020 for maintaining peace and tranquility on the Line of Actual Control.
At the same time General Parnaik’s suggestion for revoking non-use of weapons on the Line of Actual Control [LAC] is potently escalatory and at best status quo should prevail.
Instead of seeking a review of the agreements which have become inoperative by default, aggressive border management by physical occupation to assert claims on the upper reaches of the India China Line of Actual Control and McMahon Line in areas of cartographic as well as operational significance may have to be undertaken.
Boundary management will therefore have to follow an aggressive approach to counter China’s what is frequently referred to as ‘Salami Slicing,’ tactics.
It worked in the case of occupation of Siachen Glacier with Pakistan and demonstrates the way forward with China rather than working towards fresh agreements.
History shows that China inks [not sign] an agreement only to assert its own claims and not to accommodate those of rivals.
Comments