Daily Times

In June 2017 a military standoff occurred between China and India on the Doklam plateau southwards near the Doka La pass. India claimed to have acted on behalf of Bhutan, with which it has a ‘special relationship’. India blinked first and backed off. Apparently, its hegemonic designs are forcing it to thrust forward again at the peril of peace and tranquillity.

The new incursion is India’s planned road through Lipulekh, which is a Himalayan pass on the border between India’s Uttarakhand state and the Tibet region of China, near their tri-junction with Nepal. The pass is near the Chinese trading town of Taklakot (Purang) in Tibet and has been used since ancient times by traders, mendicants and pilgrims transiting between India and Tibet.

It may be recalled India and Nepal had concluded a treaty of friendship 1950, but New Delhi’s adventurism in 1962 resulted in the Sino-Indian Limited War. Indian forces received a serious drubbing at the hands of the Chinese Army but New Delhi had closed the Lipulekh Pass, forcing Nepal’s trade to pass through the Tinker Pass. The unilateral closure of the Lipulekh pass was a violation of the “1950 Treaty of Friendship” between Kathmandu and New Delhi. Nepal has been demanding the reopening of the Lipulekh Pass since 1997.

The bilateral agreement for increasing trade through Lipulekh Pass between India and China in 2015, has been much to the chagrin of Nepal. The strained relations over this issue between India and Nepal have persisted but reached a high in November 2019 when Indian government circulated a new map with the inclusion of Nepal’s Kalapani territory (the southern side of the Lipulekh pass) within India and commenced the construction of a new road through Lipulekh Pass.

At this juncture, it must be remembered that the Treaty of Sugauli between Nepal and Britain was signed in 1815 but endorsed in 1816. According to this treaty, Lipulekh and Kalapani region were recognized as part of Nepal declaring Makhali River as the boundary. The Lipulekh and Kalapani being a tri-junction among India, China, and Nepal is of geostrategic, geopolitical, and geo-economic importance.

The road through Lipulekh Pass is of vital strategic and tactical importance for India with respect to Chinese movement. On May 10, 2020, border skirmishes erupted between Chinese and Indian forces in northern Sikkim and eastern Ladakh. It acted as a catalyst for New Delhi to acquire full control over this region to keep Chinese movement at bay but to its dismay Chinese soldiers literally kicked out the Indians.

Lipulekh Pass is situated in the northern state of Uttarakhand’s Vyas Valley, which makes it one of the natural passes to access Tibet through Uttarakhand. On May 08, 2020, Indian Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh inaugurated Ghatiabagar Lipulekh motor road that connects the last Indian post on the Indo-China border. This road has dual purpose, easing the pilgrims’ journey as well as serving as a strategic road that India could use as deterrence against Chinese aggression.

India’s hegemonic designs prompt it to claim the territory as its own. Correspondingly, Nepal’s Foreign Ministry has declared India’s decision to build the road through territory at the Lipulekh pass as breach of the agreement reached between the two countries in 2014, in which the Nepalese and Indian Prime Ministers signed an agreement to resolve boundary issues through negotiations.

India rejects Nepal’s opposition and dismisses Nepal’s objection of long ignoring a longstanding dispute over Lipulekh Pass and claims that it is within Indian territory

Nepal has urged India to discuss the matter and solve it through diplomatic means. Simultaneously, India’s decision to build the road through Lipulekh Pass also caused protests by students and political parties in Nepal against Indian occupation of Lipulekh territory of Nepal. Protesters have been chanting slogans, displaying placards rejecting Indian illegal and unilateral action.

On May 9, 2020, the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (NCP) issued a press statement which categorically termed it as a criminal activity of Delhi and an attack on the sovereignty of Nepal.

India rejects Nepal’s opposition and dismisses Nepal’s objection of long ignoring a longstanding dispute over Lipulekh Pass and claims that it is within Indian territory. While responding to the Indian allegations, Pradeep Gyawali, Foreign Minister of Nepal said that the condemnation of Indian occupation over Nepali territory is based on Nepal’s internal decision-making and not inspired or influenced by China or any other country. India tries to divert the attention of Nepal by blaming it and linking the China factor to fulfil its vicious plans.

Similarly, the ‘Corona Jihad’ propaganda by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led the Indian government against Indian Muslims resulted in the killings of many Muslims all over the country. Delhi is in a belligerent mood and has been continuously violating the ceasefire at the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan and resorting to unprovoked firing, targeting the civilian population. Apparently, Indian hegemony also stems from actions to divert attention from its poor handling of COVID-19 and its dwindling economy. New Delhi has already faced a snub to its soldiers at Ladakh and will receive a sound response from Pakistan in case it tries any adventurism. International community must take cognizance of Indian war mongering and hegemonic designs, which is a threat for the entire region.

Meanwhile, China’s first domestically developed unmanned helicopter focused on plateau operations recently made its maiden flight. Capable of conducting missions including reconnaissance, communication relay, electronic disruption and fire strike at high altitude, this versatile and easy-to-operate drone could help safeguard China’s south-western borders with India as Chinese border defence troops have bolstered border control measures and made necessary moves in response to India’s recent, illegal construction of defence facilities across the border into Chinese territory.

The writer is a retired Group Captain of PAF. He is a columnist, analyst and TV talk show host, who has authored six books on current affairs, including three on China