While there is an ongoing tension in the Sikkim border, Foreign Minister, Sushma Swaraj on Thursday said that the dispute at the border with Sikkim which began more than a month ago. Swaraj said in parliament that “India has not said anything unreasonable” and that “all countries are in India’s support”.
Where the Centre is trying to work their diplomatic channels to defuse the tension, Beijing, alongside, has spoken harshly with warnings of “serious consequences” if India does not pull back its soldiers.
Swaraj’s counters come as a response to foreign diplomats who said they were “shocked” by India’s action. Indian sources have confirmed that foreign embassies in Delhi have expressed concern about the boiling tension and have been reassured of Delhi’s commitment to finding a peaceful solution.
Notably, on 16 June, China claimed that Indian troops crossed the border at Sikkim to stop the construction of a road on the Donglang plateau which it claims as its territory. But Bhutan claims the area, which it refers to as Dokalam, as its land, and India has agreed with that assessment.
“As long as it was between China and Bhutan, we had nothing to do with it. But since this deals with the tri-junction point it affects our security position,” said the Foreign Minister referring to the geography of the dispute at the tri-junction of India, Tibet and Bhutan.
