North News
New Delhi, December 6
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Friday that preparations are underway for Special Representative (SR) talks between India and China, with patrolling in Eastern Ladakh having been restored. The MEA Spokesperson confirmed the developments during a press briefing, noting that the restoration of patrolling and SR-level talks are key to advancing border de-escalation efforts.
Sources had earlier told North News that the SR talks are expected to take place in Delhi later this month, with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi leading the discussions. The talks aim to manage bilateral relations and focus on further de-escalation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
In Parliament on December 3, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar highlighted the significance of peace along the LAC for improving relations between the two nations. He also noted that the disengagement process along the LAC had concluded, with attention now turning to de-escalation and operational management at the borders.
Jaishankar also referred to his recent meeting with Wang Yi, during which both sides reaffirmed their commitment to resuming SR-level and Foreign Secretary-level talks. He reiterated the importance of addressing other bilateral issues while safeguarding India’s national security. However, he pointed out that challenges remain, with China occupying 38,000 sq. km of Indian territory in Aksai Chin, and Pakistan’s 1963 cession of 5,180 sq. km of territory to China.
The border tensions between the two nations spiked in 2020, leading to a significant stand-off and the Galwan Valley clashes, which resulted in fatalities for the first time in 45 years. Jaishankar commended the Indian armed forces for their decisive response despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the same briefing, Jaishankar also addressed issues in Bangladesh, emphasizing India’s expectation that legal processes there be fair and transparent, ensuring full respect for the legal rights of individuals involved. Furthermore, he reiterated India’s demand for strong action against Masood Azhar, and updated on the situation in Syria, noting the presence of 90 Indian nationals, including 14 working with UN organizations. The Indian government is in close contact with its nationals in Syria.
