India seeks early resolution of border issues with China as top diplomats meet in Astana

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) - India on Thursday sought “early resolution of remaining issues in border areas” with China as the top diplomats of the two Himalayan neighbors met in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of a two-day meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) that began a day earlier.

New Delhi is represented by Jaishankar as Prime Minister Narendra Modi skipped the summit.

Jaishankar said he agreed with Wang to "redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels" to solve the border issues.

"Respecting the LAC (Line of Actual Control) and ensuring peace and tranquility in the border areas is essential," he said, adding that “the three mutuals - mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest - will guide our bilateral ties."

The feud over the nearly 3,500-km (2,100-mile) Himalayan border, known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Ladakh area of disputed Jammu and Kashmir, erupted in May 2020, sparking clashes. Thousands of troops were deployed to both sides of the boundary, resulting in 24 deaths.

Multiple talks involving diplomats and military officials have been held to resolve the standoff.