Chinese proverb that ”the gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials..” in itself explains as to how a resolute stand and consistency as also focussed hard work always paid handsomely. Since 1962, India has been putting up with the treacherous acts of China especially at the LAC and most of the time, playing more defensively thus emboldening that country to keep nibbling our areas intermittently until at Doklam in 2017 when perhaps for the first time , India held to its ground, resisted China’s attempt to extend a road on the Doklam plateau at the tri-junction between India Bhutan and China. Here , India came resolutely in support of Bhutan and refused to withdraw its troops which forced China to stop the road construction. This was an acid test for China’s hegemony gone for bitter consequences to face in future should any intrusion be attempted by it on the LAC with India . However, while the entire world was grappling with an entirely new challenge to human life in the shape of COVID-19 pandemic, China tried to disturb the status-quo-ante in what is known as ‘no one’s land’ at eastern part of Ladakh on the LAC . A nine month standoff between the two countries , thus resulted with neither side agreeing to yield.
Another taste of the Indian ”pudding” by China was fairly done in Galwan valley where retaliating a treacherous and unexpected attack by its PLA herds was not only repulsed but heavy casualties inflicted on China against 20 of our brave hearts getting martyred . Thereafter, sequence of events went all against China as Indian troops took control of several advantageous positions. While a standoff in a perfect combat readiness between the two armies in an eye ball to eye ball position on the LAC continued all these nine months , on the other hand diplomatic and military talks and renewed initiatives lent strength to settle disputes across the table and as many as nine military level talks , one after the other, intermittently took place to de-escalate the position . India kept to its firm ground that not even an inch of her territory would be compromised come what may and while talks continued both military and diplomatic, India kept responding in equivalent manner to each and every step of China towards strengthening its army deployments and bringing in more weapons at the LAC . Not only that India upped its air force capabilities in the areas of conflict but kept on impliedly sending strong messages to China that it meant a serious business and was decisively ready to face even a war should one be thrust on it by the cunning neighbour.
However, it is a matter of great satisfaction that both the Asian giants have agreed to pull back troops in Pangong Lake area of Ladakh . A pact between the two sides having successfully reached gives India a win- win position in that India has conceded nothing in the sustained talks with China. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh while announcing in Parliament on Thursday February 11, made it clear that agreement on disengagement related to north and south banks of Pangong Lake in Ladakh and that both the troops would stop forward deployment of troops in a ”phased , coordinated and verifiable manner”. Giving details about the pact to diffuse the tension on the border that strained the relations between the two countries, the Defence Minister reiterated that not a single inch of our land shall be allowed to be taken by anyone. In other words, the position was slated to be brought back to the levels of pre May 5, 2020. However, patrolling in the no one’s land had been to be under a temporary moratorium. India had to base its permanent position at Finger 3 in the Pangong Lake area while China would do it at Finger 8 under the pact .
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