India terms the resolution of LOAC issue as strategic objective

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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India and China are determined to resolve the lingering territorial issue at shared borders which has become the main concern of all stakeholders on both sides. A top Chinese official has urged the Indian government to redouble efforts for settlement of the boundary dispute while Indian government has labeled it as their strategic objective.

“We need to redouble efforts to push for framework settlement on boundary negotiations to reach a fair and mutually acceptable solution at an early date,” Chinese spokesperson Qin Gang said.

Analysts believe that the term – strategic objective – used by Indian officials indicates that the matter is of top most priority and will be dealt on urgent basis. Both countries have been discussing the Line of Actual Control issue for decades. After mutual cooperation, agreements were signed in 1993 and 1996. However, it is believed that the issue remained unresolved in 2002 when China allegedly took the deal off the table.

“Our conviction is that an early settlement of a boundary question will advance the basic interests of the two countries and we, therefore, feel that it should be pursued as strategic objective by both countries,” said Syed Akbaruddin, official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs.

Referring to the discussions taking place at Special Representative-level, Akbaruddin said, “Now, they are in discussions on the second phase which is related to the framework for the resolution of the boundary question.”