Salahuddin Haider
INDIA, dreaming for years to be the regional power, had begun to relegate itself to problematic stage. It has after the new military conflict in the Eastern Ladakh, started to lose grip on Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim, a fact which the Indian media itself is beginning to acknowledge. Militarily it is caught up in a difficult position for the Chinese advancements in Eastern Ladakh, which is Chinese terrtiroy and which it wants to take back.
For years, the Line of Actual Control served a border, but the situation seems to change now. NDTV (New Delhi Television), Indian Express, and quite a few ex-army Indian generals is now beginning to concede that fighting a war against China would spell disaster for India. Nirender Modi, on the other hand, just to save his face, first tried to lie to countrymen that not a single inch of Indian territory has been lost to China in the June conflict in Eastern Ladakh. It even used some former army generals like V.K Singh to support his contention through statements in favour of Modi, but nothing seems to work.
China, being a peaceful country, had waited for long to seek peaceful settlement with India of Line of Actual Control, but the India’s expansionist policies, led to disappointments, and finally Chinese were compelled to send troops to take control of its territory in Ladakh. What was a minor conflict in the beginning, looks like turning into full-fledge battleground. China has moved its heavy artillery, helicopter gunships into the area. Obviously it has a right o advance to 90 miles of Ladhakh territory. Indians seem puzzled, for a military solution is beyond its capacity.
NDTV reported that 11 hours of negotiations between Indian and Chinese Military officials could not break the deadlock Taking advantage of the situation, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sikkim have begun to distance themselves from India. Sikkim even refused water to neighbouring Indian territories, while Nepal wants to liberate itself from the Indian domination. Even Bhutan has begun to be independent of Indian control, which means that India, which for decades, had tried to keep these Himalayan States under its domination, is now feeling isolated. Indian Express and NDTV are in the forefront to present an independent picture of the problem, while the rest of the India media is toeing the government line.
But facts can not be hidden for more long, and now Indian public also seems worried. Since most of the news about military situation in Ladakh is emanating from Indian sources, it is difficult to rely on these, but whatever has been said by independent Indian media, presents a horrendous situation for India, as Chines have begun to move forward to a point called Bottleneck which is 22 miles area between India and Sikkim, which is taken over the Chinese, it would mean cutting down Indian supplies to Siachene, which India has long occupied illegally.
Its hold the region may well be in danger, and if the Indian military is surrounded from four sides, it would be at mercy of others. India is in difficult situation at present, getting out from where appears extremely difficult.
