India is engaging with China to peacefully resolve the stand-off, said the ministry of external affairs when asked about US President Donald Trump’s offer of mediation between India and China.

The foreign ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava did not confirm whether India had sought US government’s intervention in the recent border dispute with China. China’s foreign ministry has also not commented on Trump’s offer.

This is the first reaction from India’s foreign ministry to the US President’s offer and the Chinese foreign ministry statement that the situation at the LAC was stable and controllable. The Chinese Ambassador had said on Wednesday that both India and China can resolve differences through communication.

Srivastava said, “As conveyed last week, the Indian troops take a very responsible approach towards border management and strictly follow the procedures laid out in various bilateral agreements and protocols with China to resolve any issue that may arise in the border areas.”

He further added that the two sides remain in touch via established military and diplomatic channels. The foreign ministry has said that a dialogue with China is on both in New Delhi and in Beijing.

List of mechanisms to resolve Indo-China LAC disputes:

1993 Agreement on Maintenance of Peace and Tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China border areas;

1996 Agreement on Confidence Building Measures in the Military Field along the LAC;

2005 Protocol on Modalities for the implementation of the Confidence Building Measures in the Military Field along the LAC;

2012 Agreement on the establishment of a working mechanism for consultation and coordination on India-China Border Affairs; and

2013 Border Defence Cooperation Agreement.

Commenting on the border tensions, the spokesperson said, "India is committed to the objective of maintenance of peace and tranquility in the border areas with China and our armed forces scrupulously follow the consensus reached by our leaders and the guidance provided. At the same time, we remain firm in our resolve to ensuring India’s sovereignty and national security."

So far there is no change in the border stand-off.

Sources privy to the developments told CNBC-TV18 that the stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops continues in Galwan region, Pangong Tso and Hot Springs and both sides have sent in reinforcements. "Currently, there is no change in troop positions on both sides and the Chinese forces haven’t yet withdrawn. We continue to match their deployment," said an official requesting anonymity.

First Published:May 28, 2020 10:48 PM IST