‘Talks will resolve Doklam stand-off’

Guwahati: The Doklam standoff between India and China is not going to escalate into a war and Indian authorities dealing with China is of view that the ongoing standoff will be resolved through talks.

Pointing out that talks were taking place at various levels and all the channels had been kept open, security sources dealing with China affairs told this newspaper that India had also involved Bhutan in the ongoing dialogue with China.

Informing that neither India nor China had taken any decision on reviewing its trade and diplomatic relationship, security sources said that China would be the biggest loser if India was forced to review its trade relationship with China. Security sources said that both the countries had allowed delegation level visits on various other issues.

Clarifying there was no problem between the two countries over the 40,000-km international boundary, security sources said that they were confident to end the standoff through talks.

Saying that China reacted similarly on the visit of Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh, security sources said that despite all threats and opposition, it went off peacefully.

Security sources said that they did not see the Doklam standoff escalating into a war between the two countries but in case of any eventuality, India was prepared to face it.

It is significant that Doklam is a tri-junction between India, Bhutan and China. The Doklam standoff began in mid-June when India accused China of constructing a road in the disputed territory towards Doklam, an objection that the Royal Bhutanese Army also raised.

India intervened in the crisis, supporting Bhutan’s stand and forced China to halt its construction work. China claimed Doklam as its territory and soon there was a standoff between the Indian and Chinese troops, with both of them sending reinforcements at the border area.

Admitting that following the standoff the pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar was cancelled, security sources however said that in case of India reviewing its trade relationship, it would affect the economy of China adversely.

Security sources also referred that in past there has been more such standoff between the two countries, which took more than a year in resolving.