Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 16

Disturbing tidings flowing from Galwan Valley in Ladakh and the stoic hush here became a subject of debate on whether New Delhi allowed Beijing to set the narrative on social media space.

In an age when militaries around the world practice the art of information warfare, barring an official confirmation by the Indian Army confirming the loss of three lives in the face-off, not much clarity was offered.

Reports from China began circulating much earlier with the Global Times quoting the Chinese Foreign Minister stating that Indian troops “seriously violated the consensus of the two sides by illegally crossing the border twice and carrying out provocative attacks…” The Indian reaction came late evening through the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson asserting that “India is very clear that all its activities are always within the Indian side of the LAC.”

Acknowledging China too suffered, Global Times Editor-in-Chief Hu Xijn said the Chinese side didn’t release the number of PLA casualties to avoid stoking public mood. While the “strategic silence” could be explained as part of a calculated effort by New Delhi not to escalate the situation, the absence of authentic information saw several other claims of greater number of casualties on the Indian side being circulated till late evening.