Srinagar, Dec 3: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Tuesday informed Parliament that the Galwan Valley clashes in June 2020 were the first fatalities along the India-China Line of Actual Control (LAC) in 45 years.
He said these clashes marked a turning point in India-China relations.
He said the violent clashes in Galwan led to the deployment of heavy weaponry near the LAC, requiring a strong counter-deployment by India’s forces. He said the situation also called for a diplomatic push to ease tensions and restore peace.
Jaishankar said India’s relations with China are based on an understanding from 1988, which aimed to resolve boundary disputes peacefully. He added that both nations agreed in 1991 to maintain peace along the LAC until the final settlement of the boundary issue.
He also said several agreements have been made to build confidence between the two countries.
He further said that in 1993, an agreement was signed to maintain peace, followed by further confidence-building measures in military areas in 1996.
Jaishankar said the Declaration of Principles for Relations and Comprehensive Cooperation was finalized in 2003, which led to the appointment of special representatives to address the boundary issue.
He said in 2005, a protocol for confidence-building measures was developed.
Jaishankar said additional peacekeeping mechanisms were established in 2012 with the creation of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC). In 2013, an understanding on border defense cooperation was reached, he added.
