Ties with China cannot progress without peace and tranquillity at border: Jaishankar

Jaishankar said India does not get swayed by coercion, inducements and false narratives

Sending an unambiguous message to China on border row, India on Thursday said the bilateral relationship will continue to remain impacted when the situation in eastern Ladakh remains not normal while identifying "forward deployment" of troops as the main problem.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made it clear that the two sides will have to find ways for disengagement of the troops and that the current impasse is not to China's interests either.

Addressing a press conference, he said, "the fact is that the relationship is impacted and it will continue to be impacted...If there is any expectation that somehow we will normalise (the ties) when the border situation is not normal, that is not a well-founded expectation."

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Emphasising that New Delhi also wants to have better ties with China, Jaishankar said it can be possible only when there is peace and tranquillity in the border areas and until there is normalcy on the borders, the relationship between the two countries cannot progress.

The Minister said India would not get swayed by coercion, inducements and false narratives as he pointed towards New Delhi's stand on the situation along the border and its opposition to China's Belt and Road Initiative.

When asked whether China has occupied Indian territory following the border row that started in May 2020, Jaishankar said the problem is of "forward deployment" of troops and India wants to "improve relations with China. But it will be possible only when there is peace and tranquillity in border areas and if there is an agreement, it should be adhered to."

He said the communications between both the countries have not been broken down. "The point is that with China, even before Galwan happened, we were talking to the Chinese saying that look we are seeing movement of your forces which in our view is violative of our understanding. The morning after Galwan happened, I actually spoke to my (Chinese) counterpart," he said.

Both the countries have been engaged in talks at diplomatic and military levels, he said, adding "at the end of the day disengagement is a very detailed process."

Asked why India's ties with all leading countries are on an upswing but not with China, Jaishankar said the answer could only be given by China because for some reason, Beijing chose to break agreements in 2020 to move forces to the border areas and coerce New Delhi.

"It has been made very clear to them that until there is peace and tranquillity in border areas, our relationship cannot progress. So that is the obstacle that is holding that back," Jaishankar said.