As the Indian and Chinese armies remain locked in a bitter border standoff in eastern Ladakh sector since May this year, India and China are likely to hold another round of military talks this week on specific disengagement proposals, reports said. In a positive development, the talks are possibly meant to discuss specific proposals for a breakthrough in the long-negotiated disengagement process in eastern Ladakh.
The development comes after the two Asian giants held the eighth round of Corps Commander-level talks in Chulsul sector on November 6. The two sides had a candid, in-depth and constructive exchange of views on disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the western sector of India-China border areas.
“Another round of talks is likely this week to discuss the proposals,” a source was quoted by PTI as saying. The fresh talks will also be at the level of Corps Commanders.
The November 6 talks, which lasted for nearly 11 hours, were held in Chushul on the Indian side of the LAC. The talks were candid, in-depth and constructive as per the joint statement released by the Indian Army and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
Commenting on the outcome of the eighth round of Corps Commander-level talks, the ministry of external affairs ministry said that both the countries agreed to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, ensure their frontline troops to exercise restraint and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation.
“Both sides agreed to maintain dialogue and communication through military and diplomatic channels, and, taking forward the discussions at this meeting, push for the settlement of other outstanding issues, so as to jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas. They also agreed to have another round of meeting soon,” the MEA stated.
In a stern message to China, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat on November 6 asserted that India will not accept any shifting of the LAC and said that PLA is facing unanticipated consequences for its misadventure in Ladakh because of firm responses by Indian forces.
While claiming that the situation in eastern Ladakh continues to remain tense, the CDS noted that the ‘possibility of transgressions and confrontations on the border spiralling into a larger conflict cannot be ruled out’.
Both the nuclear-powered countries have deployed a huge number of troops along the LAC. Indian Army has deployed nearly 50,000 troops at several friction points in the easter Ladakh sector. The Indian Air force (IAF) has also deployed almost all its frontline fighter jets like Sukhoi 30 MKI, Jaguar and Mirage 2000 aircraft in Leh, Ladakh and nearby airbases.
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