As it is diplomatically said: “There are no clear winner or loser in our language”. The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday announced “expeditious disengagement of border personnel” at Doklam, signalling that the months-long standoff at the disputed India-China-Bhutan trijunction has come to an end. In response to queries on Doklam disengagement, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “India has always maintained that it is only through diplomatic channels such matters can be addressed. Our principled position is that agreements and understandings reached on boundary issues must be scrupulously respected”.

India’s official statement is in contrast to the what the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Doklam, insisting that India has withdrawn troops from Doklam while Chinese troops will “remain in the region” and exercise their “sovereignty over the region”. This difference in the stand on Doklam between India and China is also reflected by the global media which has reported extensively on the border dispute.

BBC: The BBC, in its report titled ‘China claims victory over India in Himalayan border row’, says that “China says India has withdrawn troops from a disputed Himalayan border area, ending a tense stand off lasting weeks”. The BBC report says that India’s foreign ministry confirmed troops were “disengaging” at Doklam after agreement between the two countries.   The report quotes China’s official Xinhua news agency as saying that India had withdrawn its personnel and equipment “that had crossed the border back to the Indian side”.

The CNN report titled ‘India, China agree to ‘expeditious disengagement’ of Doklam border dispute’ says the standoff was “sparked after Bhutan accused China of constructing a road inside its territory in ‘direct violation’ of treaty obligations. China, which does not have formal diplomatic relations with Bhutan, denied the accusation, contending that Doklam is part of Chinese territory”.

– Prakhar Prakash Misra (Political Editor, OE)

As it is diplomatically said: “There are no clear winner or loser in our language”. The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday announced “expeditious disengagement of border personnel” at Doklam, signalling that the months-long standoff at the disputed India-China-Bhutan trijunction has come to an end. In response to queries on Doklam disengagement, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “India has always maintained that it is only through diplomatic channels such matters can be addressed. Our principled position is that agreements and understandings reached on boundary issues must be scrupulously respected”.

India’s official statement is in contrast to the what the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Doklam, insisting that India has withdrawn troops from Doklam while Chinese troops will “remain in the region” and exercise their “sovereignty over the region”. This difference in the stand on Doklam between India and China is also reflected by the global media which has reported extensively on the border dispute.

BBC: The BBC, in its report titled ‘China claims victory over India in Himalayan border row’, says that “China says India has withdrawn troops from a disputed Himalayan border area, ending a tense stand off lasting weeks”. The BBC report says that India’s foreign ministry confirmed troops were “disengaging” at Doklam after agreement between the two countries.   The report quotes China’s official Xinhua news agency as saying that India had withdrawn its personnel and equipment “that had crossed the border back to the Indian side”.

The CNN report titled ‘India, China agree to ‘expeditious disengagement’ of Doklam border dispute’ says the standoff was “sparked after Bhutan accused China of constructing a road inside its territory in ‘direct violation’ of treaty obligations. China, which does not have formal diplomatic relations with Bhutan, denied the accusation, contending that Doklam is part of Chinese territory”.

– Prakhar Prakash Misra (Political Editor, OE)