India on China: 'National pride won't be compromised'

India's defense minister on Sunday said that talks on its border dispute with China are underway but India will never compromise on its "national pride."

Addressing a virtual rally for the disputed area of Jammu and Kashmir, Rajnath Singh asserted that India is no longer a "weak" country, and that its security capabilities have increased.

“Talks are underway with China at the diplomatic and military level. China too expressed wish to resolve this issue via talks. I’d like to inform the opposition that our government won’t keep anyone in the dark,” he said.

Skirmishes between India and China over their shared border in the Ladakh region started on May 5, and have led to the camping of soldiers on both sides along the Line of Actual Control, a demarcation that separates Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory.

Border tensions between the two countries have existed for over seven decades. The disputed border also led to the Sino-Indian War in 1962.

Meanwhile, Singh claimed scrapping the special status of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir state has led to all round development.

New Delhi, he added, will carry out so much development in the region that the people of Pakistani Kashmir will want to be a part of India.

Kashmir is claimed in full but ruled in part by both India and Pakistan. A small sliver of the region is controlled by China as well.

Last August, the Indian nationalist government revoked Article 370 and related provisions from the Constitution, scrapping the country’s only Muslim-majority state with its autonomy. It was later split into two federally administered territories.

Authorities also locked the region down, detaining thousands of people, imposing restrictions on movement, and enforcing a communications blackout.