BY SHAHID MAJEED MIR
The disputed boundary between India and China, also known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC), is divided into three sectors: western, middle and eastern. The countries disagree on the exact location of the LAC in various areas, so much so that India claims that the LAC is 3,488 km long while the Chinese believe it to be around 2,000 km long. Eastern Ladakh has been militarily “tailored” to prevent a repeat of 1962 — when China, with exceptions like Rezang La, literally overran the Indian military defenses. In north Sikkim, a clash on Saturday led to injuries to troops, including four from the Indian side. The incident occurred in the ‘Naku La sector’ ahead of Muguthang.
India and China are both nuclear-armed countries with strong militaries. Although not a shot between them has been fired since 1976 or a military skirmish happened after 1967, the fact that Indian and Chinese soldiers are in an eyeball to eyeball situation at two places in Ladakh, with strong statements coming from both sides, can’t be construed as a very happy situation. Because matters on the border have always been resolved peacefully by the two countries in the past four decades, there is hope that the tensions will soon subside.
India-China border is divided into three sectors, where the LAC in the western sector falls in the union territory of Ladakh and is 1597 km long, the middle sector of 545 km length falls in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, and 1346 km long eastern sector falls in the states of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. The middle sector is the least disputed sector, while the western sector witnesses the highest transgressions between the two sides.
Even during peacetime, the difference in perception over where the LAC lies on the northern bank of the lake, makes this contested terrain. In 1999, when the Army unit from the area was moved to Kargil for Operation Vijay, China took the opportunity to build 5 km of road inside Indian territory along the lake’s bank. The 1999 road added to the extensive network of roads built by the Chinese in the area, which connect with each other and to the G219 Karakoram Highway. From one of these roads, Chinese positions physically overlook Indian positions on the northern tip of the Pangong Tso lake.
One such area where the road runs close to the LAC is the Galwan River basin. This river flows into the Shyok and believed to be the site of a Chinese incursion though the exact number of PLA soldiers who have entered areas traditionally held by Indian forces remains unknown. Satellite images released by open source satellite experts indicate the presence of Chinese tents near the road close to the Galwan River basin.To the Southeast of the reported face-off site along the Galwan river is the frontline Indian post of Gogra, located near the Line of Actual Control. Sources indicate that a Chinese build-up of forces has taken place close to this post, though it is likely that the build-up is presently located on the Chinese side of the LAC. The Indian Army, which has chosen not to speak on record on the Chinese incursions, has not indicated the nature of the Chinese build-up here and whether artillery or armour (tanks) has been moved to this region.
The Global scenario of 21st century is different from 20th century where war has no place among fraternity of nations. The Economic sanctions infact is used as last tool to curb hands of enemy country. In this case the Chinese establishment need to analyze that war against India would only leave the geography of South Asia with fire and furry. The insane ideology of one winning and other losing isn’t possible in context of nuclear weapons. The short term strategy of war has to be left in lurch with long term possibility of cranking up for solution to basic problem between two neighbors. The issue of Ladakh is souring toad with entire region at brisk of nuclear weapons. There is no doubt proxy agencies on either side engaged in destabilization of each other’s territory. However to ensure war would lead to severe destruction. Therefore the short-term sacrifice has to be converted into long-term opportunity for eternal solution to Ladakh problem. The modern period is a period of peace, stability, development, science and technology, space science etc where there’s no space for war and warfare. The countries need to engage each other without any precondition on either side for complete resolution of pending disputes if borders are to be changed into Economic corridors for human prosperity.
Shahid Majeed Mir hails from Misribehak Machil Kupwara and can be reached at mirshahid363@gmail.com
