EAM Jaishankar Emphasizes De-escalation as Next Step in Sino-Indian Relations After Disengagement

New Delhi:  disengagement part of "problem" with China along Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Lakh has been put at rest and focus should now be on de-escalation, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday.

Disengagement and Its Implications

Jaishankar said it is "reasonable" to expect some improvement in relations between India and China following final round of disengagement but hesitated to say that re could be a reset of ties.

"I see disengagement as disengagement; nothing more, nothing less. If you look at our current situation with China, we have an issue where our troops are uncomfortably close along Line of Actual Control (LAC) which required us to disengage," he said at HT Leership Summit.

understanding between India and China on October 21 was last of disengagement agreements, Jaishankar said.

"So that with its implementation, disengagement part of problem is at rest," he said.

India-China Ties: No Reset Yet

Jaishankar's remarks came in response to a question on wher disengagement of troops by two sides last month was beginning of a reset of Sino-Indian ties.

external affairs minister said current situation of relationship does not warrant such a conclusion.

Indian and Chinese militaries completed disengagement exercise in Demchok and Depsang in eastern Lakh along LAC last month after two sides reached an agreement to resolve festering border row.

two sides also resumed patrolling activities in two areas after a gap of almost four-and-a-half years.

Next Step: De-escalation

In his remarks, Jaishankar said de-escalation should be next step following completion of disengagement process.

"Where disengagement will le us, it is a reasonable supposition that re will be some improvement in ties," he said.

Differing Views on China within Government

On overall India-China ties, Jaishankar delved into various factors and said it is a "complicated" relationship.

To anor question on wher economic and security wings of government have divergent views on China as this year's Economic Survey appeared to pitch for greater economic engagement with neighbouring country, Jaishankar said re could be different points of view but overall relationship is guided by a policy decision.

"I think an accurate way of looking at it is that in every government, different ministries have different responsibilities, and flowing from that responsibility, y have a point of view," he said.

"You referred to an Economic Survey. In effect, re would be a national security survey which you may not see in public, which would have a national security point of view," he said.

Jaishankar said external affairs ministry is an integrator of all points of views and takes an overall balanced approach.

"If somebody has a point of view, n we look at that point of view. We don't say you can't have that point of view, but a point of view at end of day is not a policy decision," he said.

India's Political Stability and Global Impact

To a separate question, external affairs minister said world is looking at India's political stability, especially at a time when most countries in world are facing political instability.

"At such a time, being elected three times in a row in a democracy is not an ordinary thing," he said about result of parliamentary election this year.

US Election and Global Engagement

On Republican leer Donald Trump's victory in US presidential election, Jaishankar said it reflected a lot about US.

"This US election tells us a lot about America. It tells us that many of concerns and priorities that won Donald Trump a first term have become more intense, not gone away," he said.

external affairs minister also said he does not think that US would turn its back on world.

"If you are number one power, you have to remain engaged with world, but terms you are offering to world are going to be different from terms which were re," he said.

Ambitious India-US Partnerships

external affairs minister said ambitious projects like India-US initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) are unlikely to be impacted under new government in Washington.

"I think we are going to see that as a structural trend and, my own sense is, if President Trump is determined to make America more competitive and brings to it a strong element of business viability, I think such an America will actually look for partners with whom it can work in a complementary fashion," he said.

India’s Role in Russia-Ukraine Conflict

On Russia-Ukraine conflict and India's efforts to find a peaceful solution to it, Jaishankar said a solution cannot be found on battlefield.

"What we have been trying to do is to have conversations, in good faith, with understanding that common points or convergences in those conversations, if or party was comfortable, we were prepared to share it with or side," he said.

"We have not put forward a peace plan. We do not think it is our business to do that. Our business is to try to find a way of bringing se two countries to a point where y are able to engage, because, at end of day, y have to engage with each or," he said.

(Except for heline, this story has not been edited by Republic and is published from a syndicated feed.)