NEW DELHI, Dec 12: The External affairs minister S Jaishankar said India was being tested over the long stand-off in eastern Ladakh but felt that what had happened was also not in the interest of China.
He said he was confident that the Indian defence forces would meet the national security challenge along the contested border amid the stalemate with China over the eastern sector of Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)
“We are being tested. I have every confidence we will rise to the occasion and meet the national security challenge. But beyond that, at this time, I would really frankly keep my own counsel,” the Union minister said during an interactive session at the annual general meeting of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
He called the evens along the LAC “very disturbing “ and that it had raised some very “basic concerns,” but added, “what has happened in eastern Ladakh was not actually in China’s interest as it has significantly impacted public sentiment in India.”
When asked whether it will be a long-haul or a breakthrough is expected soon, Jaishankar said, “I would not go into prediction zone at all whether it is going to be easy or not, and what will be the timelines and so on.”
“I also believe that what has happened is not actually in the interest of China. Because what it has done is — it has significantly impacted public sentiment (in India). Professionally, I have seen the evolution of how the Indian public feels about China over the last many decades and I am old enough to remember much more difficult days, especially in my childhood and in my teens,” he said.
Mr. Jaishankar said a lot of work had gone into developing the relationship on both sides. “I do not believe that the events of this year have helped at all. In fact I think the real danger is that the goodwill which was so carefully developed will dissipate.”
“But I also would say that, yes, we are being tested. I have every confidence that we will rise to the occasion; we will meet that national security challenge. But beyond that, at this time, I would really frankly keep my own counsel,” Jaishankar said.
The armies of both Indian and China are locked in a tense border standoff in eastern Ladakh since early May. Both sides have held multiple rounds of military and diplomatic talks. However, no breakthrough has been achieved yet.
(Manas Dasgupta)