Resolve Tensions With China Through Negotiations: India's Left Parties

New Delhi, May 2, IRNA – Expressing concern at continued growth of tensions with China around the LAC in Ladakh, India’s two Left parties, the Communist Party of India (Marxist CPI-M) and Communist Party of India (CPI), urged to resolve the tensions through negotiations. According to reports, on April 15th, a platoon-strength contingent of Chinaˈs Peopleˈs Liberation Army (PLA) had come 19 kilometers deep inside the Indian territory in Burthe in the DBO sector and established a tented post there. They have claimed the area as their own. “The dispute must be resolved peacefully through negotiations urgently, safeguarding Indiaˈs interests,” said CPM and CPI in a joint statement issued here. It said that both our Prime Minister and the Minister for External Affairs have expressed confidence of arriving at a solution through talks. “India has in fact described the latest developments as a ˈlocalized affairˈ. Both India and China are giant neighbors and must resolve such disputes as mature nations do through negotiations and not through whipping up passions and tensions,” added the statement. Meanwhile, addressing the Unified Commandersˈ Conference in New Delhi on Tuesday, Defense Minister A. K. Antony said the ˈcurrent situation in Eastern Ladakh as ˈnot one of our creationˈ... India remains committed to a peaceful resolution of the situation, through dialogue within the framework of agreements for maintaining peace and tranquilityˈ. He emphasized that India was ˈunited in its commitment to take every possible step to safeguard our interestsˈ. Defense Minister A. K. Antony also said that Indiaˈs ties with ˈChina are, at times, bedeviled by border issues, particularly along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The recent developments are no exceptionˈ. /end