New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Thursday enlightened Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over latter’s statement, “unarmed soldiers sent to martyrdom”.
Gandhi on Thursday tweeted, “How dare China kill our UNARMED soldiers? Why were our soldiers sent UNARMED to martyrdom?”
In response to his statement, Jaishankar said that all troops on border always carry arms and also on the 15 June they did so. But due to the long-standing practice as per 1996 and 2005 agreements, firearms during faceoffs were not used.
“Let us get the facts straight. All troops on border duty always carry arms, especially when leaving post. Those at Galwan on 15 June did so. Long-standing practice (as per 1996 & 2005 agreements) not to use firearms during faceoffs,” he tweeted.
Let us get the facts straight.
All troops on border duty always carry arms, especially when leaving post. Those at Galwan on 15 June did so. Long-standing practice (as per 1996 & 2005 agreements) not to use firearms during faceoffs. https://t.co/VrAq0LmADp
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 18, 2020
The first agreement signed in September 1993 says that both the sides entered into the agreement based on five principles, mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence, and with a view to maintaining peace and tranquillity in areas along the line of actual control in the India-China border areas.
The agreement signed in November 1996, defined the detailed protocols to achieve the goals set in the first agreement. This agreement restricts soldiers from both the sides from using firearms on each other. The Article I of the agreement says that “neither side shall use its military capability against the other side. No armed forces deployed by either side in the border areas along the line of actual control.”
