India’s prime minister has said the deaths of at least 20 soldiers in a fight with Chinese troops in a disputed Himalayan border area “will not be in vain”.
Narendra Modi said India would be “proud that our soldiers died fighting the Chinese” in the clash in the Ladakh region on Monday.
Soldiers reportedly brawled with sticks, bats and bamboo sticks studded with nails. No shots were fired.
Both sides blamed each other.
It is the first deadly clash between the two sides in the border area, in the disputed Kashmir region, in at least 45 years.
Also Read: Atlanta police chief resigns over Rayshard Brooks shooting
India’s army said China also suffered casualties but Beijing has given no details.
The Indian statement notes that injured soldiers were “exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain”.
As each side traded accusations, India said China had tried to “unilaterally change the status quo”. Beijing accused Indian troops of “attacking Chinese personnel”.
The two armies later held talks to try to defuse tensions.
