Mea: China’s LAC attempts hit bilateral ties: MEA | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The latest annual report of the ministry of external affairs said that the military standoff with China that started in eastern Ladakh in April 2020 has still not been fully resolved and India officially continues to maintain that ties won’t become normal till the time troop disengagement is completed in the area.
The ministry said both sides agree that a prolongation of the existing situation was not in the interest of either side, as it was impacting the relationship in a negative manner. “Military and diplomatic officials of the two sides are meeting regularly to continue their discussions on resolving the remaining issues at the earliest,” it said, adding there had been an enhanced deployment of troops and armaments by the Chinese side in the border areas and along the LAC.

On Pakistan, the report said normalisation of relations between the two countries was “undermined” as Pakistan continued to support cross-border infiltration and ceasefire violations. India, as a result of proactive outreach with the international community, successfully thwarted Pakistan’s misleading attempts to present an alarmist picture of the situation of the region and interfere in the internal affairs of India, according to the report.
“India seeks normal relations with all its neighbours, including Pakistan. Our consistent position is that bilateral issues should be addressed peacefully in an environment free from terror, hostility and violence,” it reiterated.

The report acknowledged that year 2021 saw a positive development in the form of the renewed ceasefire understanding between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan in February. The understanding held quite well for the first few months, but Pakistan again upped the ante in terms of cross-border infiltration and ceasefire violations from July 2021, according to the MEA. “It has been made clear to Pakistan that India will not compromise on issues relating to national security and will take firm and decisive steps to deal with all attempts to undermine India’s security and territorial integrity,” it said.