LEH: India has strongly rejected the Chinese demand of creation of a buffer zone inside the Indian territory on the strategic Depsang Plains, even as there is no progress made in the negotiations being held between the two countries to resolve the three year old standoff along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh.
The Congress accused the Narendra Modi government of failing to restore the status quo in Depsang in eastern Ladakh in the last three years and said it would be “unforgivable” to allow the situation to worsen.
Reports in the media said that the Chinese army has demanded the creation of a 15-20 km buffer zone inside India-claimed lines on the strategic Depsang Plains as a precondition for disengagement, refusing India’s offer of a 3-4km demilitarised strip, quoting an official from the intelligence wing of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
The Chinese made the latest demand during the 18th round of corps commander talks last month, and reiterated it during subsequent military talks at lower levels held on May 16, said the reports.
“During negotiations, India rejected the demand and instead agreed to a 3-4km buffer zone, but the Chinese refused to budge,” the official was quoted as saying by a newspaper.
The Depsang Plains remain the only friction point where no disengagement has taken place since the Chinese transgressed India-claimed lines in eastern Ladakh in May 2020.
The reports cited that China was working to establish a revised status quo along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, as it is already entrenched 18km inside India-claimed lines and now wants a buffer zone of another 15-20km.
However, a defence ministry official said India had rejected China’s “unjust” demand and that negotiations were on to resolve the standoff.
An Indian Army official was quoted saying that the Chinese army’s “illegitimate” demand for a 15-20km buffer zone would never be accepted.
Demilitarised “buffer zones” have so far been established on the Galwan Valley (3km wide), Pangong Lake (10km), Gogra (3.5km) and Hot Springs (4km) as part of the disengagement process, defence ministry sources said, as per reports.
Meanwhile, the Congress on Monday accused the Narendra Modi government of failing to restore the status quo in Depsang in eastern Ladakh in the last three years and said it would be “unforgivable” to allow the situation to worsen.
Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “clean chit” to China on June 19, 2020 has immeasurably weakened India’s negotiating position and it is paying a heavy price for it.
Expressing concern over the “very worrisome” situation at the border as highlighted in a news report, he said access to the strategic sector of Depsang has been denied to Indian patrols for more than three years now, with no signs of a return to the status quo.
“Now we learn that, far from withdrawing, the Chinese are demanding a ‘buffer zone’ 15-20 km further inside Indian territory. This after having already intruded 18 km past our rightful border,” he said in a statement.
Ramesh alleged that the Modi government has already ceded territory in Galwan, Pangong Tso, Gogra Post and Hot Springs by agreeing to buffer zones inside Indian territory in return for a Chinese withdrawal.
“The Modi government must stand firm against China. India cannot lose access to the 1,000 square kms. Depsang Plains that separate Chinese and Pakistani forces and is crucial to any defence of Ladakh.
“PM Modi’s public ‘clean chit’ to China on June 19th, 2020, immeasurably weakened India’s negotiating position and the country is paying a heavy price for it. It’s bad enough that the Modi government has failed to restore the status quo in the last three years. To allow it to worsen would be unforgivable,” Ramesh said in the statement.
He cited media reports which claimed that China has demanded the creation of buffer zone inside India-claimed lines in the Depsang Plains.
The Congress has been demanding status quo ante as on May 2020 at the border in eastern Ladakh. The party has also been alleging that Indian troops have lost control over patrolling points ever since the troops of both the countries clashed at the border in 2020 in which many soldiers lost their lives.
