Ajit Doval has been appointed India’s special representative for boundary talks with China. The post had been lying vacant for some time and Doval’s appointment shows the dynamism and innovativeness in India’s foreign policy. The fresh thinking is essential to sort out the tangled border dispute between India and China. There have been seventeen rounds of talks and all have proved fruitless. Occasional violations of the Line of Actual Control (LoAC) have taken place, especially Chinese troops sneaking into Ladakh while President Xi Jimping was in India. Both sides have to adopt a pragmatic approach. It would be right and realistic to accept the LoAC as the border between the two countries. Some geographical alignments may be necessary.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Ajit Doval have both an aggressive stance. At the same time, the BJP is well aware of the need for economic collaboration with China. 20 billion dollars are pouring into India from the giant neighbour. India should chalk out an economic programme keeping in view the measures taken in China and South Korea. The BJP is on a very strong wicket inside the country with a massive majority in the Lok Sabha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been to several important countries and shown a strategic flexibility in his foreign policy. He has not deviated from Nehruvian policy principles altogether but is ready to dilute them when necessary. The Mc Mohan Line has no historical validity and adherence to it led to border hostilities between India and China in 1962. An understanding with China on the border dispute will facilitate resolution of the conflict over the Line of Control with Pakistan. All eyes are on Modi’s role in his first SAARC summit In Kathmandu which has just started.