In an event in Pune organized by Pune Investment and Financial Ambassador Association (PIFAA), ex-Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Narvane, when asked about what he could share on the Galwan Valley incident, said that "...With China, we have an unsettled boundary. I use the term boundary deliberately because, unlike an international border, which is clearly demarcated and internationally recognised, a boundary is more nebulous..... it is neither accepted by either countries that this is where the boundary runs, and therefore with China we have a long-standing boundary dispute, and the boundary itself is over 3500km long.....Wherever these areas of disagreement exist, we have been having and will keep having clashes. The Galwan clash was just another example of such an incident. However, what is important is that the events following Galwan have clearly demonstrated that, as far as China is concerned, a military solution to the boundary dispute is off the table...We clearly demonstrated that the unilateral use of force to change boundaries will not be accepted. And that has brought about this change that it has given impetus to solve this issue through talks and dialogue. That is precisely why the mechanism for talks between the special representatives of the two countries is important...The greater lesson to emerge from Galwan is that India has significantly strengthened its reputation on the world stage, both militarily and diplomatically, as well as politically"
He also highlighted the fact that the Army always tries not to escalate an issue further and keeps a full-blown war as a last option. Despite being capable of doing so. Giving examples of how much wars can cost, he drew a comparison with the fact that a single fighter aircraft costs ₹600 crore, which he said was equal to the total budget of Maharashtra's entire midday meal programme.
#WATCH | Pune, Maharashtra | Former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane says, "...With China, we have an unsettled boundary. I use the term boundary deliberately because, unlike an international border, which is clearly demarcated and internationally recognised, a boundary is more nebulous...Wherever these areas of disagreement exist, we have been having and will keep having clashes. The Galwan clash was just another example of such an incident. However, what is important is that the events following Galwan have clearly demonstrated that, as far as China is concerned, a military solution to the boundary dispute is off the table...We have made it clear that the unilateral use of force to change boundaries or borders is unacceptable. This has brought about a change and given fresh impetus to resolving the issue through talks and dialogue.That is precisely why the mechanism for talks between the special representatives of the two countries is important...The greater lesson to emerge from Galwan: India has significantly strengthened its reputation on the world stage, both militarily and diplomatically, as well as politically" (22.10)
— ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2026
Galwan Valley Clash and Its Aftermath
The Galwan Valley clash of June 2020, which led to several casualties on both sides, raising tensions further between India and China. The incident resulted in a prolonged military standoff and highlighted the longstanding border dispute between the two countries.
Subsequently, both countries held multiple rounds of military and diplomatic talks to resolve tensions and disengage troops from friction points. On Oct 2024, the two countries reached an agreement on patrolling arrangements in the Depsang and Demchok areas, marking an important step towards reducing tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The agreement was followed by the implementation of mutually agreed patrolling arrangements and disengagement measures in these areas. However, the broader boundary dispute between the two countries remains unresolved.
India-China Relations and Diplomatic Efforts
At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Tianjin on August 31, 2025, India and China made efforts to improve bilateral ties. Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the summit and emphasizing wanting to improve the diplomatic ties.
Discussions have continued through the Special Representatives mechanism, which serves as an important channel for negotiations on the boundary question and efforts to explore a framework for resolving the dispute.
The 25th round of Special Representatives' talks was held in Beijing on August 25, 2026, between India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Both sides reiterated their commitment to maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border and advancing negotiations towards a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement.
The next round of Special Representatives' talks is scheduled to take place in India in 2027.
Why Dialogue Remains Important
These developments underline the importance of diplomatic talks in managing military disputes between the two countries, as highlighted by Naravane.
While military preparedness remains important in safeguarding India's territorial interests, the costs and consequences of a full-scale conflict make diplomatic engagement essential. The continued use of dialogue mechanisms demonstrates how both countries are attempting to manage tensions while pursuing a long-term resolution to their boundary dispute.
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