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India-China face-off: No Indian troops were missing in action, clarifies Army

Indian army trucks move along a highway leading to Ladakh, at Gagangeer in Kashmir's Ganderbal district (Reuters) — Indian army trucks move along a highway leading to Ladakh, at Gagangeer in Kashmir's Ganderbal district **(Reuters)**

8 min read . Updated: 17 Jun 2020, 05:02 PM IST Staff Writer

A large number of Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation in Galwan Valley and certain other areas of eastern Ladakh for last five weeks

In the biggest military confrontation between India and China in over five decades, at least 20 Indian Army soldiers were killed in a violent clash with Chinese troops in Ladakh's Galwan Valley on Monday night. While China said it does not want more clashes with India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it clear today that although India wants peace but it is capable to give a befitting reply if instigated.

A large number of Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation in Galwan Valley and certain other areas of eastern Ladakh for the last five weeks, including in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh.

Here are the latest updates on India's face-off with China:

All Indian troops on border duty always carry arms, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday as a response to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who asked on Twitter why soldiers were sent "unarmed to martyrdom" in Galwan Valley. The minister said armies of the two sides do not use firearms as per provisions of two bilateral agreements sealed in 1996 and 2005. Read more
No Indian troops missing in action, clarified Indian Army. This is with reference to the article 'In China-India Clash, Two Nationalist Leaders with Little Room to Give' by New York Times dated 17 June 2020.
Talks between Major Generals of India and China in Galwan Valley are over. The talks have remained inconclusive as no immediate disengagement or change in ground has taken place. More talks to take place in the coming days, reports ANI quoting sources
Four Army personnel who were critically injured after the violent face-off with Chinese troops are stable now, reported ANI citing Army sources
Front-line bases of the Indian army and the air force along the nearly 3,500 km de-facto border with China have been put on high alert in sensitive Galwan Valley, PTI reported citing official sources. The Army has already rushed in additional troops to all its key front-line bases and formations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh, they said.
President Ram Nath Kovind expressed deepest condolences to the families of 20 Indian soldiers. "All those who laid down their lives in Galwan valley of Ladakh have upheld the best traditions of the Indian armed forces. Their valour will be eternally etched in the memory of the nation. My deepest condolences to their families," the President tweeted.

All those who laid down their lives in Galwan valley of Ladakh have upheld the best traditions of the Indian armed forces. Their valour will be eternally etched in the memory of the nation. My deepest condolences to their families.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 17, 2020

"We are proud of our nation, we will fight this together. We stand with the nation at this hour: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on all party-meeting called by PM on June 19 over #IndiaChinaFaceOff
After speaking to Chinese foreign minister, EAM S Jaishankar "underlined that this unprecedented development will have a serious impact on the bilateral relationship. The need of the hour was for the Chinese side to reassess its actions and take corrective steps", MEA said in a statement.
"Two sides should scrupulously and sincerely implement the understanding reached by Senior Commanders on 6 June. Troops of both sides should also abide by bilateral agreements and protocols. They should strictly respect and observe LAC and shouldn't take any unilateral action to alter it," the ministry added.
During the phone call, a strong message was conveyed by Indian Foreign Minister to China: “What happened in Galwan was premeditated and planned action by China which was responsible for the sequence of events" reported ANI.
"General MM Naravane, COAS and all ranks salute the supreme sacrifice of our valiant soldiers at Galwan. We offer deepest condolences to the families & stand strong in our resolve towards protecting the sovereignty & integrity of our country. Their sacrifices will not go in vain," said Indian Army in statement.
Amid anti-China protests in various districts of north Bengal, shop owners in Siliguri's popular Hong Kong market on Wednesday decided to change its name and stop selling Chinese products in the entire market.
In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced ₹5 lakh compensation and government job for kin of 2 soldiers from the state who died in the Galwan Valley.
The Indian Army has released the names of the 20 military personnel, including an officer, who laid out their lives in the violent face-off with China.
Chinese foreign minister emphasises that both sides should strengthen communication and coordination through existing mechanism to resolve differences.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar over phone. "India and China should follow important consensus reached by their leaders," Wang tells Jaishankar.
China, India agree to resolve border clash in a fair way, de-escalate as soon as possible, reports Reuters quoting China foreign ministry.
Home minister Amit Shah said the entire nation and the Modi government is standing firmly with families of soldiers killed along Sino-India border in this hour of grief. "Pain of losing our brave soldiers while protecting our motherland at Ladakh's Galwan cannot be put in words. Nation salutes our immortal heroes who sacrificed their lives to keep Indian territory safe and secure," he said.
Kolkata-based importers have started holding back their orders to China. A large range of consumer products from toys to lights and industrial items are imported from China, president of Calcutta Customs House Agents Association, Sujit Chakrabarty said.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi said the prime minister should tell the nation how the Chinese occupied Indian territory and why 20 of our brave soldiers were martyred. She also asked how much of Indian territory has been occupied by China and what is the government's strategy to deal with the situation.
"In this time of crisis, Congress stands with army, govt. Confident that country will unite to face enemy.": Sonia Gandhi on India-China stand-off.
The Congress today blamed the Modi government for the violent face-off with Chinese troops. “Prime minister Narendra Modi and his government is quiet now. The country had not expected that the government's silence of 40 days will result in this," AICC spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi asked PM Modi "what is govt's strategy to deal with situation on border".
China said that it does not wish to see "more clashes" with India. "From the Chinese side, we do not wish to see more clashes," said Zhao Lijian, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. "We are having communication through diplomatic and military channels. The right and wrong of this is very clear... The incident happened on the Chinese side of Line of Actual Control (LAC) and China is not to blame for it," Lijian added.
PM Narendra Modi made the statement on China during a video conferencing in which Union Home Minister Amit Shah and chief ministers of 15 states and union territories, were also present. He asked everyone to observe two-minute silence as a tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives in the clash.
We have tried that differences do not become disputes: PM Modi on Ladakh face-off.
The sacrifices of soldiers along the border with China will not go in vain: PM Modi
"I would like to assure the nation that the sacrifice of our jawans will not be in vain. For us, the unity and sovereignty of the country is the most important. India wants peace but it is capable to give a befitting reply if instigated": PM Modi.
"From early May, Chinese PLA has been trying to occupy ground position on basis of its idea of LAC and we don’t agree with their perception. So, Indian troops in early May stopped Chinese troops from advancing: Gautam Bambawale, former Indian Ambassador to China.
A group of six-seven ex-armymen gathered near the Chinese embassy in Delhi to stage a protest under the banner of Martyr's Welfare Association.
Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has suspended its team doctor, Madhu Thottappillil, after he posted a tweet about recent India-China military stand-off 'in bad taste'. "Just curious if the Coffins will come back with a 'PM CARES' sticker on them?" he had reportedly tweeted.
Names of the 20 Indian Army personnel who lost their lives in the "violent face-off" with China in Galwan Valley, Ladakh.

Major General level talks being held between India and China in the Galwan valley to further defuse the situation after the violent face-off between their troops on June 15-16: ANI says quoting Indian Army Sources.
In order to discuss the situation in the India-China border areas, Prime Minister has called for an all-party meeting at 5 PM on 19th June. Presidents of various political parties would take part in this virtual meeting.
China today claimed that the sovereignty of the Galwan Valley area in Ladakh "always belonged to it," a day after the armies of the two countries were engaged in a violent face-off.
When pointed out that the India has released the number of casualties and why Beijing was not providing the number for Chinese side, he said, "I I have stated that Chinese and Indian border troops are now jointly dealing with the relevant matter on the ground. I have nothing to add at the moment."
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said China urges India to "strictly restrain frontline troops, do not illegally cross the border, do not make provocative gestures, do not take any unilateral actions that will complicate the border situation".
China is not to be blamed regarding the latest incident, says Zhao Lijian.
"We of course don't wish to see more clashes," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular press conference, while urging India to avoid "provocative gestures" that could complicate the border situation.
"The Nation will never forget their bravery and sacrifice. My heart goes out to the families of the fallen soldiers. The nation stands shoulder to shoulder with them in this difficult hour. We are proud of the bravery and courage of India's bravehearts," Rajnath Singh said.
The loss of soldiers in Galwan Valley is deeply disturbing and painful, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Wednesday, paying glowing tributes to the Army personnel who were killed in a violent clash with the Chinese Army.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will also join Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Chief Ministers of 15 states and Union Territories via video conference today at 3 pm.
The External Affairs Ministry on Tuesday said the violent face-off between armies of India and China in eastern Ladakh was the result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo in the region.
On the situation at the China-India border both sides are having close communication with each other resolving this through diplomatic and military channels, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said.

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