Monday 9th Sep, 2024
New Delhi: Indian Army’s day-long wait for a last-minute miracle on the ceremonial border personnel meeting with the Chinese Army remained futile as the People’s Liberation Army officials did not turn up at any of BPM points along the Sino-Indian border on Tuesday.
The Army had invited the PLA commanders to participate at the border personnel meeting on the occasion of the Independence Day.
Even though the Chinese didn’t respond till Monday, the Indian Army officials were keeping their fingers crossed hoping for a last minute miracle. But at the end of the day, Chinese officials did not turn up at any of the BPM points.
These meetings are to be held at Bum La and Kibithu in Arunachal Pradesh, Daulat Beg Oldi and Chushul in Ladakh and Nathu La in Sikkim on five days in a year including the national days of the both countries and some other culturally-important days.
The ceremonial BPMs – large social gatherings – are considered as one of the means to defuse tensions along the 3,488 km long Line of Actual Control.
The cold shouldering from the Chinese on the ceremonial BPM comes at a time when troops from the two neighbours are locked in a stand-off at Doklam in Bhutan, a strategically important area near the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction.
The previous such ceremonial meeting, which China was to host on August 1 did not materialise. However, the commanders from two sides held a flag meeting on August 11 at Nathu La to find out a way to end the Doklam crisis. The flag meeting ended in a stalemate with both sides sticking to their guns.