New Delhi: The 12th round of crucial military commanders meet to resolve India-China border dispute was held on Saturday in the Ladakh sector on the Chinese side of Chushul-Moldo Border.
India categorically pressed for an early disengagement of troops and weapons in Hot Springs and Gogra points.
The meeting lasted for around nine hours, sources said adding a formal statement was expected late Sunday or Monday, August 2.
Both sides discussed “specific details’ to cool tempers in the remaining friction points including moving ahead with the disengagement process.
The Indian delegation was led by Lt Gen PGK Menon, commander of XIV Corps ensuring security for the LAC with eastern Ladakh while Maj Gen Liu Lin, commander of the South Xinjiang Military district, led the Chinese side. Importantly, the latest round of talks took place days after External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar
had conveyed to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi that the prolongation of the existing situation in eastern Ladakh was impacting the bilateral ties in a “negative manner”.
In candid talks, Dr Jaishankar on July 14 pointed out to Chinese State Councilor at Dushanbe that the “successful disengagement” in the Pangong Lake Area earlier this year had created conditions for resolving the remaining issues.
“It was expected that the Chinese side would work with us towards this objective,” an MEA statement had said, adding Dr Jaishankar – however – noted that the situation in the remaining areas is still unresolved.
India has been insisting that the resolution of the outstanding issues, including at Depsang, Hot Springs and Gogra, is essential for improvement in overall ties between two Asian neighbours.
The last military dialogues had taken place on April 9.
So far, the parleys have only had limited success though the Indian and Chinese armies began negotiations to resolve the border row on June 6, 2020.
However, there was fierce conflict at Galwan valley on June 15, 2020.
Both armies have 50,000 to 60,000 troops each in the Ladakh region.
Indian army chief Gen M M Naravane had said in May that Indian soldiers were on high alert as the PLA continued to base its troops.
During their Dushanbe meeting on the sidelines of SCO conference, External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar and his counterpart Wang Yi agreed to “remain in touch”.
Army chief Gen Naravane recently said about security threats on the India-Pakistan and India-China border that – “We have challenges on both the fronts and we are always prepared”.
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