Unilateral attempts by China to change the status quo in India-China border areas have impacted the bilateral relationship while Pakistan continues to engage in hostile and fabricated propaganda to vilify India and to divert attention from its domestic political and economic failures, according to the annual report of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The 350-page report released today noted that India’s engagement with China was complex. The two sides have agreed that pending the final settlement of the boundary question, maintenance of peace and tranquility in the border areas was an essential basis for the overall development of the bilateral relationship.
”However, starting from April-May 2020, the Chinese side undertook several attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Western Sector, which seriously disturbed the peace and tranquility along the LAC in the Western Sector and impacted the development of the relationship. These attempts were invariably met with an appropriate response from Indian Armed Forces. Both sides have agreed to resolve the issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh through peaceful dialogue,” the report said.
It added that consequently, discussions have continued with the Chinese side to achieve complete disengagement from all friction points and full restoration of peace and tranquility in the India-China Border Areas at an early date. The two sides continued to make some progress in the resolution of the issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh.
The report noted that since May 2020, there have been 11 meetings of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) so far, with the latest being on 14 October 2022. Seventeen rounds of meetings between the Senior Commanders (headed by the Commander of the 14th Corps on the Indian side) were also held, with the last round held on 20 December 2022. During these diplomatic and military level meetings, the two sides have had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on the situation along the LAC in the India-China border areas. There was an agreement to continue discussions through diplomatic and military channels to resolve the remaining issues along the LAC at the earliest, it added.
Regarding Pakistan, the report said India has completely and unequivocally rejected all actions and statements by Pakistan on matters which were completely internal to India. ”There is a greater understanding among countries that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and that the matters related to it are internal to India,” it added.
The MEA said that despite India’s persistent urging that Pakistan respect its January 2004 commitment of not allowing its soil or territory under its control to be used for terrorism against India, there was no let-up in cross-border terrorism, infiltration and illegal smuggling of arms into India across the LoC and International Boundary. Pakistan is yet to show sincerity in delivering justice to the families of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
It said India has consistently stressed the need for Pakistan to take credible, irreversible and verifiable action to end cross-border terrorism. India consistently raised the issue of Pakistan’s continued support of cross-border terrorism and terrorist infiltration in bilateral, regional and multilateral fora. In such outreach, credible inputs regarding the Pakistani origins of the captured terrorists were also shared.
The report emphasised that India desired normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan. India’s consistent position was that issues, if any, between the two countries should be resolved bilaterally and peacefully, in an atmosphere free of terror and violence. ”The onus is on Pakistan to create such a conducive environment. ”However, Pakistan continues to sponsor cross-border terrorism against India; restrict normal trade, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges,” it added.