Avoid shifting goalposts: Indian envoy to China on border row

India's envoy to China, Vikram Misri, has said "shifting of goalposts" should be avoided in bilateral relations as they serve as an obstacle that could block progress. Speaking at a virtual dialogue organised by a Chinese university, Misri said challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, reviving economies and sweeping technological transformations have only served to amplify the importance of India-China relations. He said the recent experience between the two countries suggests that at the ground level, when managing a difficult situation, finding a resolution hinges on mature minds and consistency between words and actions.

He said that the primary concern now is to restore peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and not resolving the decades-long boundary disagreement. Misri said day-to-day affairs along the disputed border should be addressed through existing established agreements and protocols, which are not to be confused with the long-term mechanisms in place for the final resolution. The ambassador highlighted how the pre-existing mechanism, agreements and protocols have helped both nations manage border affairs. A serious violation of peace and tranquillity in the border areas "naturally requires us to apply our minds" on the basis of established agreements, protocols and mechanisms to resolve it, Misri added.