NEW DELHI: The border talks between India and China remain stalemated on the “core issue” that both sides need to strictly follow the various bilateral agreements and protocols in their entirety, the Ministry of External Affairs said here on Thursday.
Indicating that India is prepared for the long haul, the MEA said these agreements required that there should not be amassing of troops. Each side should strictly abide by and respect the LAC and should not take any unilateral action to alter it.
The Indian objective is to ensure complete disengagement in all friction points along the LAC in the western sector and full restoration of peace and tranquility, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said at a media briefing.
Currently, the two sides continue to maintain communication through diplomatic and military channels. Both sides have agreed to have another round of senior commanders meeting at an appropriate time.
“As and when we have more information, we will share it with you,” said Srivastava.
Asked whether External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s called his Australian counterpart Marise Pyne at a time when Canberra and Beijing were involved in a social media war over the killing of 39 troops by Australian military, Srivastava said: “Given the depth and importance of our bilateral relations, naturally, we exchange views on regional and global developments as well as current issues of concern.”
He pointed out that India and Australia enjoy strong bilateral relationship and both were democracies with shared values while noting that the India-Australia bilateral relationship was in June elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Srivastava also noted that this year Australia had participated in the recently concluded Malabar joint naval exercises.