Chinese, Indian troops in border scuffle

Indian and Chinese troops clashed briefly in a border dispute in the western Himalayas on Wednesday, highlighting continued tension over contested territory in the region. Indian army officials refused to confirm any details of the incident and China’s foreign ministry said it was “unaware” of any cross-border incursion by Chinese soldiers. However, India’s national news agency reported that troops on both sides suffered minor injuries in a scuffle on the banks of Pangong Lake, a tourist destination that was the site of heavy fighting during the 1962 Sino-Indian war, according to the Financial Times. The lake is hundreds of kilometres from Doklam, where troops from the two countries have been facing off since June, when Indian soldiers intervened to prevent Chinese construction of a road on territory claimed by China and Bhutan. Chinese officials have repeatedly demanded that Indian troops withdraw from the disputed land at Doklam, and have warned of an escalation of military conflict.