'What Happened In Ladakh, Affected Public Sentiment In India:' S Jaishankar At FICCI 93rd AGM

The minister of external affairs while speaking at the session said that happened in eastern Ladakh has significantly impacted public sentiment in India and was not actually in China’s request.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar (File Photo/ Getty)

S Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs at the FICCI’s annual general meet on Saturday said India was being tested in the seven-month-long border standoff with China in eastern Ladakh and expressed confidence it will rise to the occasion and meet the national security challenge.  The minister of external affairs while speaking at the session said that happened in eastern Ladakh has significantly impacted public sentiment in India and was not actually in China’s request. Jaishankar condemning the incidents that took place along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the past seven months called it disturbing and said that they raised some very basic concerns. When asked whether it will be a long-haul or a breakthrough is expected soon, the minister replied, "I would not go into prediction zone at all whether it is going to be easy or not, and what will be the timelines and so on." "I also believe that what has happened is not actually in the interest of China. Because what it has done is -- it has significantly impacted public sentiment (in India). Professionally, I have seen the evolution of how the Indian public feels about China over the last many decades and I am old enough to remember much more difficult days, especially in my childhood and in my teens," he said. Jaishankar also added that a lot of work had gone into developing the relationship on both sides. "I do not believe that the events of this year have helped at all. In fact, I think the real danger is that the goodwill which was so carefully developed will dissipate." "But I also would say that, yes, we are being tested. I have every confidence that we will rise to the occasion; we will meet that national security challenge. But beyond that, at this time, I would really frankly keep my own counsel," he further said. The Indian and the Chinese army have been locked in a serious border standoff in Easter Ladakh that started in May earlier this year following the situation both the sides held multiple rounds of military and diplomatic talks. However, no breakthrough has been achieved yet. India, wants the disengagement to kick off from the north bank of Pangong Tso, where the PLA has occupied the 8-km stretch from 'Finger 4 to 8’ (mountainous spurs) since early-May. Meanwhile, China is adamant about the proposed disengagement beginning from the south bank of Pangong Tso-Chushul area, where Indian troops are in tactically-advantageous positions since August.