There is seemingly a sinister motive to Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit’s meetings with Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui and Bhutan’s Ambassador to India Vetsop Namgyel on two different occasions. Even as he is leaving New Delhi and being replaced by a new incumbent, Basit is up to mischief on behalf of his country. That the focus of the meetings was the current border stand-off at the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction in Doklam speaks for itself. A bilateral meeting between special representatives on border talks of India and China has been ruled out for now. This after Beijing said it was not keen on dialogue with New Delhi until the latter withdrew troops from Doklam. The focus of any engagement between the Special Representatives of India and China would be to discuss construction of road by China inside Bhutanese territory which is in direct violation of its commitment under the agreements of 1988 and 1998 to maintain the status quo on the boundary. Expectedly, therefore, China is reluctant to talk. There is speculation that National Security Adviser Ajit Doval could meet State Councillor Yang Jeichi on the sidelines of the meeting of BRICS that is being held in Beijing.
Chinese presence in the north of Siliguri corridor is a strategic threat to India as former Army chief Shankar Roychaudhary has recently pointed out. China wants to construct a road from Chumbi Valley in Tibet to the Indian border. That would impinge on India’s vital interest. India established its military presence to stop China, which resulted in the standoff. China is actively engaging the international community on the ongoing stand-off. On July 18, China briefed foreign diplomats in Beijing and conveyed that its troops will not wait for an indefinite period and that their patience may run out soon. The Chinese if allowed to build the strategic road could jeopardize India’s link with the northeast.
