In addition to Indian-Chinese deadlock in the actual control line that has been dragged for more than a year, they are expected to discuss the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan
The Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar is expected to meet with Chinese partners Wang Yi about the margin of the Shanghai Cooperation (SCO) meeting in the capital of Tajikistan on Wednesday, said people who are familiar with developments.
Jaisankar and Wang are in Dushanbe to attend the SCO foreign minister’s meeting and SCO contact groups in Afghanistan. In addition to Indian-Chinese deadlock on the actual (LAC) control line which has been dragged for more than a year, they are expected to discuss the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan.
There is no official word from both countries at the meeting between the two foreign ministers. This will be their first bilateral meeting since last September, when they held talks about the margin of the meeting of other SCO foreign ministers in Moscow.
The meeting in Moscow has resulted in a five-point road map to complete the deadlock on the LAC, which has not been fully implemented. Under the road map, both parties have agreed not to allow the difference to a dispute, and quickly release the LAC and maintain the right distance between their troops and facilitate tension.
The two ministers agreed that the two countries would comply with all the agreements and protocols in the matter of limits, maintain peace and tranquility in the border area and “avoid any actions that can increase the problem”. They also agreed to continue talks through diplomatic and military channels, and to work towards new trust development steps for the border area after the situation facilitates.
After a limited withdrawal on the north and south edge of Lake Pangong in February, both parties cannot explore the arms of troops at other friction points in the Ladakh sector despite diplomatic and military talks again.
The Indian side has been trying to reduce the prospect of the meeting between two foreign ministers in Dushanbe because it is impossible to produce a significant forward movement in overcoming the situation in the LAC, the people quoted above in anonymous conditions.
Jaisankar has repeatedly said China’s unilateral actions, including massing forces in Lac, tried to change the status quo and clashes in Galwan Valley last year which resulted in the first death since 1975, had disrupted bilateral relations as a whole. He also said the normal relationship could be restored only if there was peace and tranquility on the border.
China, on the other hand, has called for border problems to be set aside while the two countries advancing relations in other regions such as trade and investment. It has been taken as a sign in New Delhi that Beijing is not interested in completing the LAC deadlock.
The situation in Afghanistan is also expected to be looking for a meeting between the two foreign ministers. China has tried to play a role in a war-hit by a war by holding a meeting with the Taliban and other players but its efforts have not caused success.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was also in Dushanbe for the SCO meeting, but the people quoted above ruled out the possibility of a meeting between him and Jaisanhar.