India and China held a new round of military talks to restore normality at the border, weeks after the rival armies fought each other over the disputed frontier.
The Corps Commander Level Meeting was held at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Chinese side on December 20, according to a joint statement issued by both countries.
“They had a frank and in-depth discussion, keeping in line with the guidance provided by the state leaders to work for the resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest which would help in restoration of peace and tranquillity along the LAC [line of actual control] in the western sector and enable progress in bilateral relations,” the Indian Foreign Ministry said in the statement.
The meeting comes after clashes between two armies, both of whom have nuclear weapons, when they attacked each other with sticks and clubs in Tawang Sector in Arunachal Pradesh in remote north-east India on December 9.
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accused China of trying to “change the status quo” at the countries' disputed border.
Arunachal Pradesh is historically claimed by China as part of South Tibet.
The two countries have held 17 rounds of talks between top military commanders since the 2020 border skirmishes in Ladakh region that left 20 Indian soldiers dead.
New Delhi and Beijing share a nearly 4,000km undemarcated border that traverses the mighty Himalayas from Ladakh in the north to eastern Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, known as the line of actual control, or LAC.
The 2020 clashes triggered the mobilisation of tens of thousands of soldiers from both sides to the treacherous high-altitude border since they fought a war in 1962.
While the troops completed disengagement from a key stand-off point in the disputed Himalayan eastern Ladakh region in September, the contentious issues related to the boundary remain.
India’s Foreign Ministry said that the two sides agreed to maintain the security and stability on the ground in the western sector.
“In the interim ... the two sides agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest,” the statement said.
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School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
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