Presence of Chinese troops in Ladakh threatens J&K’s territorial integrity: Iltija Mufti

Srinagar, Jun 4: Lashing out at centre, Iltija Mufti, daughter of former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, on Thursday said that ‘Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s admission about presence of Chinese troops in Ladakh is a matter of grave concern as it threatens Jammu and Kashmir’s territorial integrity’.

In an apparent jibe, Miss Mufti said despite this, the focus is on spy pigeons and locusts from Pakistan.

Miss Mufti was reacting to telephonic conversation between PM Modi and US President Donald Trump in which they discussed the ongoing India-China border standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, days after the American President offered to ‘mediate or arbitrate’ between New Delhi and Beijing.

“PMs phone call with US President & Defence Min’s admission about presence of Chinese troops in Ladakh is a matter of grave concern as it threatens J&K’s territorial integrity.Yet focus is on spy pigeons & locusts from Pakistan. All bravado gone?” Miss Mufti, who is handling the officer twitter handle of her mother and PDP president, wrote.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), both leaders on Tuesday discussed the ‘situation on the India-China border and the need for reforms in the World Health Organisation’.

However, China has emphasised that there was no need for the intervention of a “third party” to resolve its current standoff with India.

Meanwhile, as the standoff between the Indian and Chinese armies continued along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh, an “emergency landing and runway strip” is being constructed along the Srinagar-Jammu national highway in south Kashmir district of Anantnag.

Tensions have been intensifying with both countries building up troops on either side of the border. But, the border dispute between India and China is set to turn a new page with negotiations to be hosted between senior military officers on June 6.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had on Tuesday told a news channel that a ‘large number of Chinese are present in the disputed area and our troops are also holding ground’.

“In the recent crisis, the Chinese have been claiming that in their perception their border is at a particular place. We are saying it is at another place and because of this, there is a difference of opinion. Their forces have come in, in good number and we have sent our troops there in sufficient numbers too,” Mr Singh had said.

Troops of both countries have been engaged in a standoff in Ladakh for over three weeks at Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok, and Daulat Beg Oldie. UNI