New Delhi: In response to reports on China erecting roadblocks in the Indian Army’ patrolling process in eastern Ladakh, the latter has released a statement claiming “there are no roadblocks/objections from either side that have been faced in this process.”
On November 7, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information of the Indian Army, wrote on its X account that articles in the media on disruptions in the resumption of patrolling in traditional areas in Depsang and Demchok areas were speculative and did not contain facts.
“Certain Media Articles on 06-07 November 2024 have speculated about roadblocks/objections in the disengagement process consequent to the consensus between the Indian and Chinese sides on 21 October 24. It is unambiguously stated that the disengagement at Depsang and Demchok has been completed and implementation of consensus as agreed to, is being undertaken in a planned manner that includes resumption of patrolling to traditional patrolling areas. There are no roadblocks/objections from either side that have been faced in this process.”
The Army also added a word of advice to news organisations:
“The articles published in this regard are speculative and bereft of facts. The concerned media houses are requested to verify and authenticate facts before publishing such sensitive articles and exercise due editorial discretion so that no unsubstantiated or misleading information is propagated.”
The response is ostensibly to a report on The Tribune which quotes sources to note that China has been “dragging its feet” on coordinating the schedule of the Indian Army’s patrols in the area.
The report, which The Wire carried as well, said that military talks between India and China to work out the modalities of patrols have thus reached a deadlock over the “extent and routes of patrolling” at Depsang.
A day before the report was published, the Indian Army had noted that it had patrolled one of the five patrolling points at Depsang.
Ties between India and China have been tense over eastern Ladakh and the Line of Actual Control – a skirmish at which in 2020 led to the death of at least 20 Indian soldiers.
The reopening of patrolling exercises was announced amidst much fanfare on October 21 by India’s foreign secretary Vikram Misri, ahead of prime minister Narendra Modi meeting Chinese president Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Brics summit in Russia.
In an editorial, The Tribune has stood behind its story. It said:
The Army, referring to a news item, “Talks on restoring patrols at Depsang hit roadblock”, in The Tribune edition dated November 6, 2024, has said the “Indian side has resumed patrolling in its traditional patrolling areas” and both India and China are abiding by the consensus and “no roadblocks have been created by either side.”
The editorial also quoted Army spokesperson Colonel Sudhir Chamoli as having said, “Based on a consensus achieved on October 21, both sides have effectively carried out disengagement. India has resumed patrolling in its traditional patrolling areas. The Army remains committed to the consensus achieved on October 21.”
The Tribune, however, noted that its story was “only about the status of restarting patrolling in Depsang” and that the Army in its response has still not said that “patrolling has started on all routes in Depsang.”
The Tribune added:
The news item did not question consensus or disengagement process. It only said China was delaying modalities. It did not say the Indian Army was “not abiding” by the consensus.
