Border Peace Essential: MEA Responds to Reports of PLA Face-offs in Arunachal
The Ministry of External Affairs addresses reports of PLA face-offs in Arunachal Pradesh amid demands for accountability from the Congress party.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has stepped in to clarify the Indian government's stance following reports that the Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Shatrujeet Kapoor, spoke about ongoing face-offs with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Arunachal Pradesh. The government has emphasized that maintaining peace and stability in these sensitive border regions is critical for the broader health of India-China bilateral relations.
MEA's Stance on Border Tensions
During a briefing on Friday, the MEA addressed the reports by noting that the situation along the India-China border occasionally becomes volatile when Chinese forces deviate from established patrolling patterns. While directing specific operational queries to the Ministry of Defence, the MEA highlighted that both nations are actively utilizing existing military and diplomatic channels to settle outstanding disputes.
The ministry further stated that both sides have reached an agreement to discuss methods for improving the understanding of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in specific areas to ensure more effective border management. The primary goal remains the prevention of misunderstandings and miscalculations along the LAC.
Political Firestorm: Congress Demands Answers
The government's clarification comes amid a sharp political offensive led by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. The Congress leader expressed deep alarm over the reported confirmation of continuing face-offs in Arunachal Pradesh, questioning whether a new serious confrontation is unfolding following the traumatic events of Doklam and Galwan.
Kharge pointed to reports of Chinese incursions near Taksing in August and questioned why confrontations persist even 47 days after the Corps Commander-level talks at Wacha–Damai, located approximately 180 km away. He raised critical questions regarding whether India's patrolling access has been compromised and accused the government of keeping the nation in the dark about the status of Arunachal Pradesh, which he reaffirmed as an inseparable part of India.
Critique of 'Hugplomacy'
The Congress President also launched a scathing attack on the diplomatic efforts of the current administration. He listed a series of high-level engagements, including:
- At least 23 meetings and interactions between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi.
- 25 rounds of talks involving Special Representatives, including NSA Ajit Doval.
- 36 meetings of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC).
- Numerous interactions at SCO and BRICS Summits.
Kharge questioned the tangible results of these meetings, asking if patrolling rights as they existed before May 2020 have been fully restored. He dismissed the diplomatic approach as "photo opportunities & Hugplomacy," demanding that the Prime Minister address Parliament to provide transparency on national security.
Diplomatic Efforts and the Path Forward
Despite the political friction, the government pointed to ongoing diplomatic frameworks. On August 25 of this year, the 25th Round of Talks between the Special Representatives (SR) of India and China took place in Beijing. During these discussions, both nations reaffirmed their commitment to:
- Uphold guidance from their respective leaders to maintain peace and tranquillity.
- Foster an atmosphere conducive to the steady development of bilateral ties.
- Advance negotiations on a framework for settling the boundary question, based on the 2005 Agreement on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles.
The two sides agreed that any ground-level situations would be addressed promptly through the WMCC, local commander-level meetings, and other established mechanisms to ensure that disputes are resolved without escalation.