NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s international policy has been set to the test annually later he assumed office to get his second semester when a violent conflict erupted between Chinese and Indian troops in southern Ladakh in May 2020.
The sudden flare-up in the Line of Actual Control (LAC) — that the worst in years — stoked unprecedented pressures between the two neighboring nations.
External affairs Union S Jaishankar stated that the clashes”profoundly disturbed” India’s confidence in China.
Galwan clash along with also the Indian responseOn June 15, a significant battle between India and Chinese troops nearby patrolling stage 14 from the Galwan Valley.
The Chinese attempted to erect a surveillance article that Indian troops protested, resulting in a physical scuffle.
Critics of this 16th Bihar Regiment fought in hand-to-hand battle.
As many as 20 of these lost their own lives, but didn’t cede ground.
PLA also suffered significant casualties – 35 by several estimates – but has since formally confirmed the reduction of just four soldiers.
The air was escalated by enormous army build-ups on each side.
India proceeded from tanks, missiles and other heavy weaponry near the boundary in Ladakh.
This is a very clear indication that New Delhi wasn’t prepared to be cowed down from intimidation strategies.
Look for a de-escalation formulaGiven the seriousness of this circumstance, both states initiated dialogues – in the military, political and diplomatic levels – to – de-escalate the boundary situation.
The first couple of rounds of discussions remained inconclusive, with both sides refusing to budge from their various positions.
The breakthrough came in the ninth round of military-level talks, even when both sides agreed to descend out of Pangong Tso-Chushul region.
Modalities were exercised to pull troops, tanks, howitzers and armoured cars.
But an entire de-escalation still eludes.
Talks are on for additional pullback of troops against the friction factors and the Army continues to keep a force-level of several 50,000-60,000 troops in forward regions.