📝Sir Creek Dispute
🔶 The 96-km estuary between India and Pakistan, cutting through where Gujarat State and Sindh province meet, has had a dramatic impact on Indian security, though it’s always been seen to be relatively simple to resolve.
🔶It was one of the subjects in the India-Pakistan composite dialogue that resumed under Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government in 2004.
🔶Six rounds of talks have taken place, the two sides have conducted a joint survey of the creek and exchanged maps showing their respective positions.
🔶 The issue remains unresolved.
🔶 The 96-km estuary between India and Pakistan, cutting through where Gujarat State and Sindh province meet, has had a dramatic impact on Indian security, though it’s always been seen to be relatively simple to resolve.
🔶It was one of the subjects in the India-Pakistan composite dialogue that resumed under Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government in 2004.
🔶Six rounds of talks have taken place, the two sides have conducted a joint survey of the creek and exchanged maps showing their respective positions.
🔶 The issue remains unresolved.
📝The Sir Creek Issue: Significance
🔶 Over the years, the creek has also changed its course considerably. If one country agrees to the other’s traditional position, then the former will end up losing a vast amount of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
🔶 A vital reason for two countries locking horns over this creek is the possible presence of great oil and gas concentration under the sea, which are currently unexploited thanks to the impending deadlock on the issue.
🔶Because of various factors, the Sir Creek area is also a great fishing destination for hundreds of fishermen from both India and Pakistan. Sir Creek is considered to be among the largest fishing grounds in Asia. In the desperation for a great catch, many of their boats stray across the perceived boundaries, and they end up being arrested by the other side.
🔶 Maritime security concerns were heightened since November 2008, when 10 terrorists from the Lashkar-e-Taiba left in a Pakistani boat for Mumbai.
🔶 Over the years, the creek has also changed its course considerably. If one country agrees to the other’s traditional position, then the former will end up losing a vast amount of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
🔶 A vital reason for two countries locking horns over this creek is the possible presence of great oil and gas concentration under the sea, which are currently unexploited thanks to the impending deadlock on the issue.
🔶Because of various factors, the Sir Creek area is also a great fishing destination for hundreds of fishermen from both India and Pakistan. Sir Creek is considered to be among the largest fishing grounds in Asia. In the desperation for a great catch, many of their boats stray across the perceived boundaries, and they end up being arrested by the other side.
🔶 Maritime security concerns were heightened since November 2008, when 10 terrorists from the Lashkar-e-Taiba left in a Pakistani boat for Mumbai.
📝The Sir Creek Issue: Significance
🔶 Over the years, the creek has also changed its course considerably. If one country agrees to the other’s traditional position, then the former will end up losing a vast amount of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
🔶 A vital reason for two countries locking horns over this creek is the possible presence of great oil and gas concentration under the sea, which are currently unexploited thanks to the impending deadlock on the issue.
🔶Because of various factors, the Sir Creek area is also a great fishing destination for hundreds of fishermen from both India and Pakistan. Sir Creek is considered to be among the largest fishing grounds in Asia. In the desperation for a great catch, many of their boats stray across the perceived boundaries, and they end up being arrested by the other side.
🔶 Maritime security concerns were heightened since November 2008, when 10 terrorists from the Lashkar-e-Taiba left in a Pakistani boat for Mumbai.
🔶 Over the years, the creek has also changed its course considerably. If one country agrees to the other’s traditional position, then the former will end up losing a vast amount of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
🔶 A vital reason for two countries locking horns over this creek is the possible presence of great oil and gas concentration under the sea, which are currently unexploited thanks to the impending deadlock on the issue.
🔶Because of various factors, the Sir Creek area is also a great fishing destination for hundreds of fishermen from both India and Pakistan. Sir Creek is considered to be among the largest fishing grounds in Asia. In the desperation for a great catch, many of their boats stray across the perceived boundaries, and they end up being arrested by the other side.
🔶 Maritime security concerns were heightened since November 2008, when 10 terrorists from the Lashkar-e-Taiba left in a Pakistani boat for Mumbai.
📝 Siachen
🔶 The Siachen dispute is a direct result of the ambiguity that exists in the Karachi ceasefire agreement of July 1949. The agreement, which established the ceasefire line, the positions of the two militaries at the end of the 1947-1948 war, did not delineate beyond grid reference NJ 9842, which falls south of the Siachen glacier,
🔶The 1972 Simla Agreement mentions the boundary after this point to extend “north to the glaciers”.
🔶 India established its ground position in 1984, a response to Pakistan’s Oropolitics, through the Operation Meghdoot in 1984 and remains in control of the glacier
🔶 Divergent positions held by India and Pakistan on the dispute is one of the primary reasons why the negotiations on demilitarising the Siachen glacier and the adjoining areas have not progressed much.
🔶 The Siachen dispute is a direct result of the ambiguity that exists in the Karachi ceasefire agreement of July 1949. The agreement, which established the ceasefire line, the positions of the two militaries at the end of the 1947-1948 war, did not delineate beyond grid reference NJ 9842, which falls south of the Siachen glacier,
🔶The 1972 Simla Agreement mentions the boundary after this point to extend “north to the glaciers”.
🔶 India established its ground position in 1984, a response to Pakistan’s Oropolitics, through the Operation Meghdoot in 1984 and remains in control of the glacier
🔶 Divergent positions held by India and Pakistan on the dispute is one of the primary reasons why the negotiations on demilitarising the Siachen glacier and the adjoining areas have not progressed much.
📝The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
🔶 The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is part of the larger OBOR or the Belt and Road(BRI) project of China.
🔶It aims to connect Kasgar in the Xinxiang province of China to the warm water port of Gwadar in the Baluchistan province of Pakistan. It involves multiple infrastructure projects including, highways, railroads, waterways and pipelines. The Project investment estimates
range from US$ 40 billion to 60 billion.
🔶 Gwadar deep sea port, a culmination point of the ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which will be able to handle 13 million tonnes of cargo annually within five years — and an astounding 400 million tonnes annually by 2030 to be transported to landlocked Central Asia and to western China.
🔶 The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is part of the larger OBOR or the Belt and Road(BRI) project of China.
🔶It aims to connect Kasgar in the Xinxiang province of China to the warm water port of Gwadar in the Baluchistan province of Pakistan. It involves multiple infrastructure projects including, highways, railroads, waterways and pipelines. The Project investment estimates
range from US$ 40 billion to 60 billion.
🔶 Gwadar deep sea port, a culmination point of the ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which will be able to handle 13 million tonnes of cargo annually within five years — and an astounding 400 million tonnes annually by 2030 to be transported to landlocked Central Asia and to western China.
What was the Ottoman Empire?
An empire created by Turkish tribes in Anatolia (Asia Minor) that grew to be one of the most powerful states in the world during the 15th and 16th centuries.
The Ottoman period spanned more than 600 years and came to an end only in 1922, when it was replaced by the Turkish Republic and various successor states in southeastern Europe and the Middle East.
At its height the empire encompassed most of southeastern Europe to the gates of Vienna, including present-day Hungary, the Balkan region, Greece, and parts of Ukraine; portions of the Middle East now occupied by Iraq, Syria, Israel, and Egypt; North Africa as far west as Algeria; and large parts of the Arabian Peninsula.
An empire created by Turkish tribes in Anatolia (Asia Minor) that grew to be one of the most powerful states in the world during the 15th and 16th centuries.
The Ottoman period spanned more than 600 years and came to an end only in 1922, when it was replaced by the Turkish Republic and various successor states in southeastern Europe and the Middle East.
At its height the empire encompassed most of southeastern Europe to the gates of Vienna, including present-day Hungary, the Balkan region, Greece, and parts of Ukraine; portions of the Middle East now occupied by Iraq, Syria, Israel, and Egypt; North Africa as far west as Algeria; and large parts of the Arabian Peninsula.
📝The Kulbhushan Jadhav Issue
🔶 Pakistan claimed to have arrested Jadhav from Balochistan on March 3, 2016. India maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he was involved in business activities after retiring from the Indian Navy in 2002.
🔶 In April 2017 Pakistan's military establishment announced that Jadhav would be hanged.
🔶 Shortly after India approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ. As India was denied Consular access to Jadhav. India has accused Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention.
🔶 Pakistan contended that the Vienna Convention provisions on consular access were not intended for a "spy" involved in subversive activities.
🔶 India believes the ICJ can look into Jadhav’s case as both the countries are signatories to the optional protocol of the Vienna convention on consular relations (VCCR). The protocol says any dispute arising out of the interpretation or application of VCCR shall lie within the jurisdiction of the ICJ.
🔶On 18 May 2017 International Court of Justice stays death sentence given to Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pakistani military court until further notice.
🔶 This is the first time after 1971 that India has turned to the ICJ in a dispute with Pakistan.
🔶 In September 1974, India spelt out the matters over which it would accept the jurisdiction of the ICJ, replacing a similar declaration made in 1959.
🔶 Among the matters over which India does not accept the ICJ jurisdiction are: “Disputes with the government of any state which is or has been a member of the Commonwealth of Nations”.
🔶Moving the ICJ amounts to taking disputes with Pakistan to a multilateral forum, which New Delhi tends to avoid.
🔶 Pakistan claimed to have arrested Jadhav from Balochistan on March 3, 2016. India maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he was involved in business activities after retiring from the Indian Navy in 2002.
🔶 In April 2017 Pakistan's military establishment announced that Jadhav would be hanged.
🔶 Shortly after India approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ. As India was denied Consular access to Jadhav. India has accused Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention.
🔶 Pakistan contended that the Vienna Convention provisions on consular access were not intended for a "spy" involved in subversive activities.
🔶 India believes the ICJ can look into Jadhav’s case as both the countries are signatories to the optional protocol of the Vienna convention on consular relations (VCCR). The protocol says any dispute arising out of the interpretation or application of VCCR shall lie within the jurisdiction of the ICJ.
🔶On 18 May 2017 International Court of Justice stays death sentence given to Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pakistani military court until further notice.
🔶 This is the first time after 1971 that India has turned to the ICJ in a dispute with Pakistan.
🔶 In September 1974, India spelt out the matters over which it would accept the jurisdiction of the ICJ, replacing a similar declaration made in 1959.
🔶 Among the matters over which India does not accept the ICJ jurisdiction are: “Disputes with the government of any state which is or has been a member of the Commonwealth of Nations”.
🔶Moving the ICJ amounts to taking disputes with Pakistan to a multilateral forum, which New Delhi tends to avoid.
📝India and Afghanistan Relations
📝 Background ( Part 1 )
🔸Relations between the people of Afghanistan and India traces to the Indus Valley Civilisation.
🔸The Durand Line is the 2,430-kilometre International border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Sir Mortimer Durand had drawn this line in 1893 between Afghanistan and then British India, which later got divided into two countries India and Pakistan in 1947.
🔸 The Durand Line cuts through the Pashtun tribal areas and further south through the Balochistan region. It politically divides ethnic Pashtuns, as well as the Baloch and other ethnic groups, who live on both sides of the border in Afghanistan as well as in Pakistan.
🔸 During the Soviet intervention (1979-89), India was the only South Asian nation to recognise the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. India also provided humanitarian aid to then Afghan President Najibullah's government. Following the withdrawal of the Soviet forces, India continued to with humanitarian aid.
📝 Background ( Part 1 )
🔸Relations between the people of Afghanistan and India traces to the Indus Valley Civilisation.
🔸The Durand Line is the 2,430-kilometre International border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Sir Mortimer Durand had drawn this line in 1893 between Afghanistan and then British India, which later got divided into two countries India and Pakistan in 1947.
🔸 The Durand Line cuts through the Pashtun tribal areas and further south through the Balochistan region. It politically divides ethnic Pashtuns, as well as the Baloch and other ethnic groups, who live on both sides of the border in Afghanistan as well as in Pakistan.
🔸 During the Soviet intervention (1979-89), India was the only South Asian nation to recognise the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. India also provided humanitarian aid to then Afghan President Najibullah's government. Following the withdrawal of the Soviet forces, India continued to with humanitarian aid.
📝India and Afghanistan Relations
📝 Background ( Part 2 )
🔸In 1990s, India became one of the key supporters of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance.
🔸 In 2005, India proposed Afghanistan's membership in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
🔸 Both nations also developed strategic and military cooperation against Islamist militants.
🔸 Indo-Afghan relations have been strengthened by the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed between the two countries in 2011.
🔸 As Afghanistan was undergoing three simultaneous political, security and economic transitions in 2015.
🔸 India had allayed its fears about its future by making a long-term commitment to the security and development of Afghanistan.
🔸 Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani visited India for his first state visit in April 2015 and in October 2017
🔸Prime Minister Modi visited Afghanistan in December 2016.
📝 Background ( Part 2 )
🔸In 1990s, India became one of the key supporters of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance.
🔸 In 2005, India proposed Afghanistan's membership in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
🔸 Both nations also developed strategic and military cooperation against Islamist militants.
🔸 Indo-Afghan relations have been strengthened by the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed between the two countries in 2011.
🔸 As Afghanistan was undergoing three simultaneous political, security and economic transitions in 2015.
🔸 India had allayed its fears about its future by making a long-term commitment to the security and development of Afghanistan.
🔸 Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani visited India for his first state visit in April 2015 and in October 2017
🔸Prime Minister Modi visited Afghanistan in December 2016.
📝Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA)
The Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) between the two sides, inter alia, provides for
🔸assistance to help rebuild Afghanistan's infrastructure and institutions, education and technical assistance to re-build indigenous Afghan capacity in different areas,
🔸 encouraging investment in Afghanistan's natural resources, providing duty free access to the Indian market for Afghanistan's exports
🔸support for an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, broad-based and inclusive process of peace and reconciliation,
🔸advocating the need for a sustained and long-term commitment to Afghanistan by the international community.
The Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) between the two sides, inter alia, provides for
🔸assistance to help rebuild Afghanistan's infrastructure and institutions, education and technical assistance to re-build indigenous Afghan capacity in different areas,
🔸 encouraging investment in Afghanistan's natural resources, providing duty free access to the Indian market for Afghanistan's exports
🔸support for an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, broad-based and inclusive process of peace and reconciliation,
🔸advocating the need for a sustained and long-term commitment to Afghanistan by the international community.
📝Heart of Asia Process
🔸 Heart of Asia process or the Istanbul Process, started in 2011 to provide more assistance to Afghanistan. The process has three main pillars:
🔸Political consultations
🔸 Confidence Building Measures (CBMs)
🔸Cooperation with Regional Organizations
🔸This platform was established to address the shared challenges and interests of Afghanistan and its neighbors and regional partners. The Heart of Asia is comprised of 14 participating countries, 17 supporting countries, and 12 supporting regional and international organizations.
🔸 The Heart of Asia provides a platform for results-oriented regional cooperation by placing Afghanistan at its center, in recognition of the fact that a secure and stable Afghanistan is vital to the prosperity of the Heart of Asia region.
🔸India is the lead country for Trade, Commerce and Investment CBM of Heart of Asia Process,
🔸 India hosted Senior Officials Meeting of the Heart of Asia countries in New Delhi in
January 2014 and with the help of FICCI, India organized a 6th Regional Technical Group
(RTG) in New Delhi on November 2015.
🔸India hosted the Sixth Ministerial conference of Heart of Asia in December 2016 at Amritsar. It was Jointly Inaugurated by PM Modi and President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan
🔸 Heart of Asia process or the Istanbul Process, started in 2011 to provide more assistance to Afghanistan. The process has three main pillars:
🔸Political consultations
🔸 Confidence Building Measures (CBMs)
🔸Cooperation with Regional Organizations
🔸This platform was established to address the shared challenges and interests of Afghanistan and its neighbors and regional partners. The Heart of Asia is comprised of 14 participating countries, 17 supporting countries, and 12 supporting regional and international organizations.
🔸 The Heart of Asia provides a platform for results-oriented regional cooperation by placing Afghanistan at its center, in recognition of the fact that a secure and stable Afghanistan is vital to the prosperity of the Heart of Asia region.
🔸India is the lead country for Trade, Commerce and Investment CBM of Heart of Asia Process,
🔸 India hosted Senior Officials Meeting of the Heart of Asia countries in New Delhi in
January 2014 and with the help of FICCI, India organized a 6th Regional Technical Group
(RTG) in New Delhi on November 2015.
🔸India hosted the Sixth Ministerial conference of Heart of Asia in December 2016 at Amritsar. It was Jointly Inaugurated by PM Modi and President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan
📝India’s Contribution in Reconstruction Efforts
🔸 India has committed over 2 billion US$ for development efforts in Afghanistan.
🔸It has financed and built significant projects such as:
1.Delaram Zaranj Highway,
2. Parliament Building,
3. India Afghanistan Friendship Dam/Selma Dam, Hari River, Heart Province Transmission lines to Kabul.
🔸 While it has avoided its own military presence, India views foreign military presence in Afghanistan as indispensable in promoting political stability and development in the country. The USA has also urged India to get involved more.
🔸 India believes in invest and endure strategy for Afghanistan.
🔸 India has committed over 2 billion US$ for development efforts in Afghanistan.
🔸It has financed and built significant projects such as:
1.Delaram Zaranj Highway,
2. Parliament Building,
3. India Afghanistan Friendship Dam/Selma Dam, Hari River, Heart Province Transmission lines to Kabul.
🔸 While it has avoided its own military presence, India views foreign military presence in Afghanistan as indispensable in promoting political stability and development in the country. The USA has also urged India to get involved more.
🔸 India believes in invest and endure strategy for Afghanistan.
📝Challenges of Connectivity
🔸Pakistan, in particular, has been opposed to any growth in Indian influence and views Afghanistan as essential for achieving strategic depth.
🔸Despite India's requests for direct land access to Afghanistan, Pakistan has refused to provide such facility over its strategic concerns.
🔸 Alternate routes India could use to access Afghanistan: in the absence of direct land access, India is also working with Afghanistan and Iran to develop trilateral transit. Participation in development of Chahbahar port will augment our connectivity with Afghanistan and beyond.
🔸India in October 2017 began shipment of wheat to Afghanistan through the Iranian port of Chabahar.
🔸 India and Afghanistan have also established two air corridors - one between Delhi and Kabul and the other Kandahar to Delhi - to carry goods at subsidised rates.
🔸Pakistan, in particular, has been opposed to any growth in Indian influence and views Afghanistan as essential for achieving strategic depth.
🔸Despite India's requests for direct land access to Afghanistan, Pakistan has refused to provide such facility over its strategic concerns.
🔸 Alternate routes India could use to access Afghanistan: in the absence of direct land access, India is also working with Afghanistan and Iran to develop trilateral transit. Participation in development of Chahbahar port will augment our connectivity with Afghanistan and beyond.
🔸India in October 2017 began shipment of wheat to Afghanistan through the Iranian port of Chabahar.
🔸 India and Afghanistan have also established two air corridors - one between Delhi and Kabul and the other Kandahar to Delhi - to carry goods at subsidised rates.
📝Multiple Aspects of Cooperation
🔶 India delivered three Russia-made Mi-25 attack helicopters to Afghanistan in 2015 and 2016. Reports suggest it is to deliver an additional helicopter soon.
🔶 India remains wary of any efforts to reconcile with Taliban. In course of time India
reconciled with the fact that others including the US wanted to include Taliban in the talks, however the Indian position includes the Taliban who renounce violence.
🔶 For India any process of reconciliation should remain Afghan led, transparent and
inclusive. Thus, India stresses so much on the capacity building of the Afghan government.
🔶India is also considering a run of the river project on the Kabul river. This can put pressure on Pakistan in the context of the Indus Water Treaty. Pakistan and Afghanistan have now river water treaty.
🔶 India delivered three Russia-made Mi-25 attack helicopters to Afghanistan in 2015 and 2016. Reports suggest it is to deliver an additional helicopter soon.
🔶 India remains wary of any efforts to reconcile with Taliban. In course of time India
reconciled with the fact that others including the US wanted to include Taliban in the talks, however the Indian position includes the Taliban who renounce violence.
🔶 For India any process of reconciliation should remain Afghan led, transparent and
inclusive. Thus, India stresses so much on the capacity building of the Afghan government.
🔶India is also considering a run of the river project on the Kabul river. This can put pressure on Pakistan in the context of the Indus Water Treaty. Pakistan and Afghanistan have now river water treaty.
📝Evolution Of India China Relations ( Part 2 )
🔶November 1956: Zhou Enlai visits India for the second time on a goodwill mission.
🔶18 December 1956: Chinese nationals who entered Ladakh were illegally detained and later sent back to China.
🔶 September 1957: Indian Vice-President S. Radhakrishnan’s visits China.
🔶 4 September 1958: India officially objects to the inclusion of a big chunk of Northern Assam and NEFA in the China Pictorial - an official organ of the Chinese Peoples’ Republic.
🔶 23 January 1959: Zhou Enlai spells out for the first time China’s claims to over 40,000 square miles of Indian territory both in Ladakh and NEFA.
🔶 3 April 1959: Dalai Lama escapes from Lhasa and crosses into Indian territory. India’s decision to grant asylum to him sours relations with
Beijing.
🔶 8 September 1959: China refuses to accept the Mc Mohan Line with Zhou Enlai stating that China was not a signatory to the 1842 Peace Treaty between British India and England.Further, Beijing laid claims to almost 50,000 square miles of Indian territory in Sikkim and Bhutan.
🔶 19 April 1960: A meeting in New Delhi between Zhou Enlai and Nehru to address the boundary question ends in
deadlock.
🔶 February 1961: China refuses to discuss the Sino-Bhutanese and Sino-Sikkimese boundary disputes and further occupies 12,000 square miles in the western sector of the Sino- Indian border15-18 November
🔶1962: A massive Chinese attack on the eastern front, Tawang, Walong in the western sector over run, Rezang La and the Chushul airport shelled. Chinese troops capture Bomdila in the NEFA region
🔶 21 November 1962: China declares a unilateral ceasefire along the entire border and announces withdrawal of its troops to position 20km behind the LAC.
🔶8 December 1962: China sends a note signed by Zhou Enlai to India reiterating the three-point ceasefire formula.
🛡️ Both parties would respect the Line of Actual Control,
🛡️ the armed forces would withdraw 20km from this line and;
🛡️ talks between the prime-ministers of both countries to seek a friendly settlement.
🔶India accepts and later on 10 December endorses Colombo proposals.
🔶2 March 1963: China and Pakistan sign a boundary settlement in Beijing between Kashmir and Xinjiang where Pakistan ceded 5080 sq. km of Pakistan occupied Kashmir territory.
🔶27 August 1965: China accuses India of crossing the Sikkim-China boundary.
🔶 30 November 1965: Chinese troops intrude into north Sikkim and NEFA once again.
🔶 1986: Differences surface over the precise limits of the McMahon Line in the Sumdorung Chu area of Arunachal Pradesh.
🔶November 1956: Zhou Enlai visits India for the second time on a goodwill mission.
🔶18 December 1956: Chinese nationals who entered Ladakh were illegally detained and later sent back to China.
🔶 September 1957: Indian Vice-President S. Radhakrishnan’s visits China.
🔶 4 September 1958: India officially objects to the inclusion of a big chunk of Northern Assam and NEFA in the China Pictorial - an official organ of the Chinese Peoples’ Republic.
🔶 23 January 1959: Zhou Enlai spells out for the first time China’s claims to over 40,000 square miles of Indian territory both in Ladakh and NEFA.
🔶 3 April 1959: Dalai Lama escapes from Lhasa and crosses into Indian territory. India’s decision to grant asylum to him sours relations with
Beijing.
🔶 8 September 1959: China refuses to accept the Mc Mohan Line with Zhou Enlai stating that China was not a signatory to the 1842 Peace Treaty between British India and England.Further, Beijing laid claims to almost 50,000 square miles of Indian territory in Sikkim and Bhutan.
🔶 19 April 1960: A meeting in New Delhi between Zhou Enlai and Nehru to address the boundary question ends in
deadlock.
🔶 February 1961: China refuses to discuss the Sino-Bhutanese and Sino-Sikkimese boundary disputes and further occupies 12,000 square miles in the western sector of the Sino- Indian border15-18 November
🔶1962: A massive Chinese attack on the eastern front, Tawang, Walong in the western sector over run, Rezang La and the Chushul airport shelled. Chinese troops capture Bomdila in the NEFA region
🔶 21 November 1962: China declares a unilateral ceasefire along the entire border and announces withdrawal of its troops to position 20km behind the LAC.
🔶8 December 1962: China sends a note signed by Zhou Enlai to India reiterating the three-point ceasefire formula.
🛡️ Both parties would respect the Line of Actual Control,
🛡️ the armed forces would withdraw 20km from this line and;
🛡️ talks between the prime-ministers of both countries to seek a friendly settlement.
🔶India accepts and later on 10 December endorses Colombo proposals.
🔶2 March 1963: China and Pakistan sign a boundary settlement in Beijing between Kashmir and Xinjiang where Pakistan ceded 5080 sq. km of Pakistan occupied Kashmir territory.
🔶27 August 1965: China accuses India of crossing the Sikkim-China boundary.
🔶 30 November 1965: Chinese troops intrude into north Sikkim and NEFA once again.
🔶 1986: Differences surface over the precise limits of the McMahon Line in the Sumdorung Chu area of Arunachal Pradesh.
📝Boundary Question and Territorial Integrity
🔸Despite over 30 years of regular dialogues, Sino-Indian border issues remain complicated and difficult.
🔸China continues to be in illegal occupation of approximately 38,000 sq. kms. in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. In addition, under the so-called Sino-Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded 5180 sq. kms. of Indian territory in PakistanChina honed its "salami tactics" in the Himalayas in the 1950s, when it grabbed the Aksai Chin plateau by surreptitiously building a strategic highway through that unguarded region. Aksai Chin, part of the original princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, provided China with the only passageway between its restive regions of Tibet and Xinjiang.
🔸In 1993, the signing of an Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the India-China Border Areas.
🔸Despite over 30 years of regular dialogues, Sino-Indian border issues remain complicated and difficult.
🔸China continues to be in illegal occupation of approximately 38,000 sq. kms. in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. In addition, under the so-called Sino-Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded 5180 sq. kms. of Indian territory in PakistanChina honed its "salami tactics" in the Himalayas in the 1950s, when it grabbed the Aksai Chin plateau by surreptitiously building a strategic highway through that unguarded region. Aksai Chin, part of the original princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, provided China with the only passageway between its restive regions of Tibet and Xinjiang.
🔸In 1993, the signing of an Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the India-China Border Areas.
📝The Eastern Sector
🔸At the 1914 China-Tibet-Britain Simla Convention, Sir Henry McMahon, foreign secretary of British India, drew up the 890-km McMahon Line as the border between British India and Tibet.
🔸The line, drawn primarily on the highest watershed principle, marked out previously unclaimed/undefined borders between Britain and Tibet.
🔸The line put Tawang and other Tibetan areas in the British empire. The line was forgotten until the British government published the documents in the 1937 edition of Aitchison’s Collection of Treaties. Subsequently, China refused to accept the line.
🔸In the Arunachal sector, China treats the McMahon Line as the LAC. But it challenges India’s claim that it should follow the watershed. China lays its calim on Arunachal as “South Tibet” and is specifically keen on the Tawang area
🔸At the 1914 China-Tibet-Britain Simla Convention, Sir Henry McMahon, foreign secretary of British India, drew up the 890-km McMahon Line as the border between British India and Tibet.
🔸The line, drawn primarily on the highest watershed principle, marked out previously unclaimed/undefined borders between Britain and Tibet.
🔸The line put Tawang and other Tibetan areas in the British empire. The line was forgotten until the British government published the documents in the 1937 edition of Aitchison’s Collection of Treaties. Subsequently, China refused to accept the line.
🔸In the Arunachal sector, China treats the McMahon Line as the LAC. But it challenges India’s claim that it should follow the watershed. China lays its calim on Arunachal as “South Tibet” and is specifically keen on the Tawang area
📝India-China Border: Specific Sectors
📝Western Sector
🔸Aksai Chin is the biggest disputed territory is 38,000 sq km in size. It is under the occupation of China but claimed by India as part of the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir
🔸Neither of the countries have sufficient documents to make strong historical claims in the area. However, more than the legal claims, the region has huge strategic significance for China to gain access to Tibet region.
🔸 Historically British always wanted to create outer Tibet as a buffer zone. Boundaries in the western sector were hardly demarcated.
🔸 In 1957, China built its Western Highway that connects Xinjiang with Tibet, cutting across Aksai Chin. Eventually occupied it after 1962.
📝Western Sector
🔸Aksai Chin is the biggest disputed territory is 38,000 sq km in size. It is under the occupation of China but claimed by India as part of the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir
🔸Neither of the countries have sufficient documents to make strong historical claims in the area. However, more than the legal claims, the region has huge strategic significance for China to gain access to Tibet region.
🔸 Historically British always wanted to create outer Tibet as a buffer zone. Boundaries in the western sector were hardly demarcated.
🔸 In 1957, China built its Western Highway that connects Xinjiang with Tibet, cutting across Aksai Chin. Eventually occupied it after 1962.
📝The Eastern Sector
🔸At the 1914 China-Tibet-Britain Simla Convention, Sir Henry McMahon, foreign secretary of British India, drew up the 890-km McMahon Line as the border between British India and Tibet.
🔸The line, drawn primarily on the highest watershed principle, marked out previously unclaimed/undefined borders between Britain and Tibet.
🔸The line put Tawang and other Tibetan areas in the British empire. The line was forgotten until the British government published the documents in the 1937 edition of Aitchison’s Collection of Treaties. Subsequently, China refused to accept the line.
🔸In the Arunachal sector, China treats the McMahon Line as the LAC. But it challenges India’s claim that it should follow the watershed. China lays its calim on Arunachal as “South Tibet” and is specifically keen on the Tawang area
🔸At the 1914 China-Tibet-Britain Simla Convention, Sir Henry McMahon, foreign secretary of British India, drew up the 890-km McMahon Line as the border between British India and Tibet.
🔸The line, drawn primarily on the highest watershed principle, marked out previously unclaimed/undefined borders between Britain and Tibet.
🔸The line put Tawang and other Tibetan areas in the British empire. The line was forgotten until the British government published the documents in the 1937 edition of Aitchison’s Collection of Treaties. Subsequently, China refused to accept the line.
🔸In the Arunachal sector, China treats the McMahon Line as the LAC. But it challenges India’s claim that it should follow the watershed. China lays its calim on Arunachal as “South Tibet” and is specifically keen on the Tawang area
📝The Middle Sector
🔸Disagreement between in certain areas such as the Barahoti plains in Uttarakhand
🔸 Sikkim sector is considered to be settled by China. For a long time, China did not accept Sikkim’s accession to be a legitimate territory of India. It was only after the joint statement of 2005, China formally accepted Sikkim as a state of India.
🔸The basic problem is lack of any formal treaty defining the boundaries & varying interpretation of Indo-China border. Both the countries went for a full fledged war in 1962 over the issue.
🔸Disagreement between in certain areas such as the Barahoti plains in Uttarakhand
🔸 Sikkim sector is considered to be settled by China. For a long time, China did not accept Sikkim’s accession to be a legitimate territory of India. It was only after the joint statement of 2005, China formally accepted Sikkim as a state of India.
🔸The basic problem is lack of any formal treaty defining the boundaries & varying interpretation of Indo-China border. Both the countries went for a full fledged war in 1962 over the issue.
📝Current Negotiation Framework
🔶 In 2003 during PM Vajpayee’s visit to China the 1st comprehensive document for development of bilateral ties was signed at the highest level. During this visit both sides agreed to establish a special representative mechanism for settling the boundary dispute issue.
🔶For resolving the border dispute the talks are supposed to proceed through a three staged process-
🔸 Stage 1- agreement on the broad principles and political parameters that will be followed for resolving the border dispute.
🔸 Stage 2- negotiating the broad framework for resolving disputes in all sectors
🔸Stage 3- delineating the border in maps and on ground
🔸In 2005, an agreement was reached on the “political parameters & guiding principles” (stage 1 of negotiations was completed) that should be followed to resolve the boundary dispute.
🔶 In 2003 during PM Vajpayee’s visit to China the 1st comprehensive document for development of bilateral ties was signed at the highest level. During this visit both sides agreed to establish a special representative mechanism for settling the boundary dispute issue.
🔶For resolving the border dispute the talks are supposed to proceed through a three staged process-
🔸 Stage 1- agreement on the broad principles and political parameters that will be followed for resolving the border dispute.
🔸 Stage 2- negotiating the broad framework for resolving disputes in all sectors
🔸Stage 3- delineating the border in maps and on ground
🔸In 2005, an agreement was reached on the “political parameters & guiding principles” (stage 1 of negotiations was completed) that should be followed to resolve the boundary dispute.