Many things are common between the two countries and those being complimentary and supplementary to each other topping which, is belligerence towards our country. China pursuing a deriding and debased policy of expansionism is doing it practically by claiming territories of other countries in which India is at the top, reminiscent of its postures in eastern Ladakh for the past five months. Pakistan , on the other hand, pursuing a policy of religious hatred and promoting terrorism is claiming Indian area in Jammu and Kashmir. In this connection, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has made it clear that as Indian and Chinese troops remain locked in a standoff in eastern Ladakh for over five months, it appears as if the Chinese stance of creating a dispute was part of a ”mission”.
The occasion was inauguration of as many as 44 bridges by him which were built in key areas of Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim , Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir etc, crucial not only from the defence point of angle but for the overall developmental purposes of the areas specific. Since bridges, besides being components of development, are helpful in connecting people , the noteworthy thing for the people of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir is that out of these 44 bridges, 10 belong to it. The bridge on Bandipora -Gurez road over Dahi Nallah would now connect the cut off areas which otherwise used to be ”disconnected” for more than half of the year from even the District Headquarters. Other bridges in Bhadarwah, Samba , Kathua etc too were of vital importance. The Lieutenant Governor has felt that these 10 bridges were crucial for the region not only for defence purposes but for rapid development too. He has, therefore, felicitated the Border Roads Organisation and all those individuals associated with the building of these bridges and thanked the PM and the Union Defence Minister for taking special interest in the overall development of Jammu and Kashmir.
There being a paradigm shift in India’s approach towards developing border areas and building necessary infrastructure, the process of which is on continuing basis, though facing a challenging situation along the frontiers very resolutely , India is making it clear that even combined “mission” of the two belligerent countries was not going to cow down its determination to secure borders spread up to 7000 kms with both these countries. The bridges which were inaugurated are expected to significantly improve and smoothen the movement of troops. Conditions are created under a diabolical strategy on our Northern and Eastern borders about which not only the Defence Minister has expressed concern but the reluctance and inconsistencies in the Chinese stand in reverting to the position of status quo ante, needs to be taken very seriously. The hint is intermittently getting from the situation created by China and in a veiled manner supported by Pakistan on the border, be it massive build up of forces and military equipment and the like that perhaps it could boil into a confrontation. The challenging moments of COVID-19 coupled with border tensions and disputes caused by both these countries were not impacting the country’s determination to defend our borders with all the might and at the same time, bringing about historical changes in all the sectors of development.
However, the latest developments in respect of the long standoff is that channels of talks are kept open, the 7th “positive and constructive” military talks between the two countries lasting for over 12 hours and the statement issued by the two sides from New Delhi and Beijing indicated agreement on continuing dialogues and communications through diplomatic and military channels so that a solution could be found out for disengagement. The phrase used “as early as possible” generated positivity and optimistic outcome in the near future. However, it is amazing that China should be so much worried about India “stepping up infrastructure building and military development along the border” which it thinks is “the root cause of tensions”. Can India afford to resort to any complacency looking to past experience vis-a-vis China’s expansionist postures and slow down building military infrastructure along the borders with it ? No, never – is what stands conveyed to that country in various ways adequately.
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