HVK Archives: Chequered past
Chequered past - India Today
LAC
()
May 18, 1998
Title: Chequered past
Author: LAC
Publication: India Today
Date: May 18, 1998
The Indian Army's defeat by the Chinese in the border war of 1962
was a national humiliation, never mind the culpability of Nehru
and his advisers in mishandling the situation. The nation reacted
with an unprecedented surge of patriotism. The restructuring and
expansion of the armed forces fortuitously helped in blocking
Pakistan's surprise attack in 1965. In 1965 and 1966, there were
clashes between Indian and Chinese forces in the Nathu La area of
Sikkim, resulting in scores of casualties on both sides. But then
peace descended for another 15 years or so. However, the border
between the two countries defined by an undelineated Line of
Actual Control (LAC), resulting in claims and counter-claims.
In the early '80s, the decision to defend instead of abandoning
Tawang in the North-cast in some future conflict touched off a
new crisis. The Indians decided to actively patrol the LAC and
the Chinese occupation of the Sumdorong Chu pasturage, north of
Tawang, led to a media-boosted scare and official protests in
1986. The matter was complicated by the passage of a bill
creating Arunachal Pradesh, a territory that China claims in its
entirety. Simultaneously, there was another development. As part
of Exercise Chequerboard, the army re-occupied the Hathung La
ridge, across the Namka Chu rivulet, a quarter century after they
had been pushed off it. Had it been a gradual move, the Chinese
may not have been alarmed, but army chief K. Sundarji staged the
event with a characteristic touch of military panache, airlifting
an entire brigade to nearby Zimithang. The Chinese panicked and
when they moved their forces forward, there were eyeball-to-
eyeball confrontations along several parts of the LAC.
A torrent of tough talk from Beijing unnerved the mandarins in
New Delhi, but the army insisted on standing firm. The result
paradoxically was a thaw. Foreign Minister N.D. Tiwari visited
Beijing in May 1987 to assure Chinese leaders that Indian
intentions were benign. Both sides decided to take up talks with
renewed urgency and the following year, Rajiv Gandhi visited
Beijing, returning Zhou Enlai's '60s visit. Five years later, the
two sides signed the agreement on maintaining peace and
tranquillity along the LAC. Ten meetings of a joint working
group and five of an expert group to determine where the LAC lies
have taken place but the pace of progress has been tardy to say
the least. Hence, Fernandes' call for "decisive" negotiations to
resolve outstanding disputes.
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