Nepal, Afghanistan Express Concerns Over India-China Galwan Clash

In context of “recent developments in Galwan Valley,” Nepal said it had always stood for regional and world peace.

Image of India & Nepal flags, used for representational purposes.

(GIF: The Quint)

Days after twenty Indian soldiers were killed in action while dismantling illegal Chinese camps at Galwan Valley, on 15 June, Afghanistan on Saturday expressed concern over the violent face-off between India and China in Ladakh's Galwan Valley area and said it hoped that the two countries will resolve their differences through dialogue.

In a statement, according to ANI, the Afghanistan Foreign Ministry said, "As a country that has suffered immense human and financial loss due to conflict, and in light of our friendly relations, historic connections and strategic partnerships with both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of India, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is concerned about the recent border incident between the two countries who are Afghanistan's partners for peace and development."

Kabul also offered its sympathies for loss of human lives, as well as the financial loss incurred during the clash.

"We believe the consequences of the occurrence of such incidents are not in the interest of regional and global peace and stability. The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan offers its sympathies for the human and financial loss incurred during this event, and hopes that the two regional and global powers resolve their differences through dialogue and based on good neighbourly relations," the ministry said.

Nepal Issues Statement

Earlier, Nepal’s ministry of foreign affairs had issued a statement expressing confidence that India and China would resolve their “mutual differences through peaceful means in favour of bilateral, regional & world peace and stability.”

In the context of “recent developments in Galwan Valley,” Nepal said that it had always stood for regional and world peace.

Nepal's National Assembly had on Thursday, 18 June, unanimously passed the Constitution Amendment Bill to update the country's map incorporating Indian territories.

India called this move “artificial enlargement of claims, not based on historical facts.”

At the root of the border dispute is a 338 square km strip located at the trijunction between India, Nepal, and China and the three areas of interest in this trijunction are Limpiyadhura pass, Lipulekh, and Kalapani.

(With inputs from ANI.)