The neighbourhood is again becoming an unfriendly one. And India is hitting out at its neighbours, China and Nepal, over boundary issues.
Reacting to Chinese allegations that Indian troops crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC), MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, “Any suggestion that Indian troops had undertaken activity across the LAC in the Western Sector or the Sikkim sector is not accurate. Indian troops are fully familiar with the alignment of the LAC in the India-China border areas and abide by it scrupulously. All Indian activities are entirely on the Indian side of the LAC.''
Srivastava, in turn, accused China of breaching the LAC. “It is the Chinese side that has recently undertaken activity hindering India’s normal patrolling patterns. Indian side has always taken a very responsible approach towards border management. At the same time, we are deeply committed to ensuring India’s sovereignty and security.''
He added that Indian troops strictly follow the procedures laid down in various bilateral agreements and protocols to resolve any situations which may arise due to difference in perception of LAC. “The two sides have established mechanisms to resolve such situations peacefully through dialogue. Both sides remain engaged with each other to address any immediate issues. In accordance with the consensus reached in Chennai, Indian side remains firmly committed to work for the common objective of maintenance of peace and tranquillity in border areas. This is an essential prerequisite to the further development of India-China bilateral relations.''
In reponse to Nepal's accusations that India had encroached into its territory with the construction of a new road to Kailash Mansarovar from Pithoragarh through Lipulekh, Srivastava said that he hoped the Nepalese leadership would create a friendly atmosphere to discuss outstanding border issues. Yesterday, the Union government had responded to the revised map of Nepal that the Himalayan country recently released. Srivastava had said that that map included parts of Indian territory, and that the unilateral act of revising the map was not based on historical facts and evidence. He said it was contrary to the bilateral understanding to resolve the outstanding boundary issues through diplomatic dialogue. “Such artificial enlargement of territorial claims will not be accepted by India,'' he said.
When asked for the Indian response to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's recent string of tweets, in which he has accused Indian forces of torching homes in Srinagar, committing war crimes in Kashmir and even said that “a false flag operation is imminent from India in order to divert world attention from its ongoing genocide in IOJK'', Srivastava said that he “didn't want to dignify such malicious propaganda with a comment”.