Desk |
Updated: Oct 25, 2024 14:55 IST
New Delhi [India], October 25 (Desk): Former Union Minister and ex-Chief of Army Staff General VK Singh (Retd) on Friday emphasised the importance of collective responsibility in maintaining internal security, urging everyone to actively participate in safeguarding the nation.
Speaking at the Chanakya Defence dialogue he said, “Internal security is everyone’s affair. It is our duty to share this responsibility with all those we come in contact with. We must ensure that if we find ourselves in a situation related to internal security, we should not let our ego get in the way but be flexible enough to work out solutions that assist the nation as a whole.”
Earlier on Thursday, Singh praised the India-China border agreement, noting that the modalities of the decision need to be worked out by those on the ground. “It is a very positive step that has happened, and I would especially like to commend our diplomats for achieving something that has been pending for quite some time. However, it is important to understand that this is an agreement for disengagement and patrolling, and the specifics will take time to finalise. The details need to be worked out by the people on the ground,” General VK Singh said while speaking to Desk.
He added that a positive atmosphere has been created with the India-China agreement, and the leaders involved in talks are likely to reach mutually beneficial conclusions. “Various meetings will take place, and only then will we see the outcomes. However, I believe that a very positive atmosphere has been established where both leaders can engage in meaningful discussions,” General VK Singh noted.
In a major development in the 10-month-long military standoff on the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh, India and China have reached an agreement to disengage their troops from the northern and southern banks of the contentious Pangong Lake. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced this agreement in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, stating that Chinese troops would move back east of Finger 8 while the Indian side would return to its Dhan Singh Thapa post near Finger 3.
In his statement to the Rajya Sabha, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “I am pleased to inform the House today that as a result of our well-thought-out approach and sustained talks with the Chinese side, we have reached an agreement on disengagement in the North and South Banks of the Pangong Lake. It has also been agreed to convene the next meeting of the Senior Commanders within 48 hours after the complete disengagement in the Pangong Lake area to address and resolve all remaining issues.”
The agreement reached between India and China regarding patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh “essentially pertains” to the areas of Depsang and Demchok, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated. “As for Depsang and Demchok, if you consider the statements I have made over the last 48 to 72 hours, the answer should be quite clear. The last time we had an agreement on several issues that arose in the India-China border areas since 2020 was in September 2022,” Misri said at a media briefing regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia for the BRICS Summit.
He added, “Since then, we have been working to find resolutions for the pending issues in the remaining areas along the Line of Actual Control, which pertain to these areas.” (Desk)
