New Delhi: Indian and Chinese military commanders on Wednesday held “productive” talks to end the border standoff in eastern Ladakh, a day after initiating a limited disengagement of troops from a number of friction points in the high altitude region, people familiar with the development said.
In the over four-and-half-hour Major General-level dialogue, the Indian delegation pressed for total restoration of status quo ante and immediate withdrawal of thousands of Chinese troops from the areas including around Pangong Tso which India considers on its side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), they said. “The talks were productive as both sides exchanged views in a positive atmosphere. Both the armies are committed to end the row through talks,” a senior military official said without elaborating.
The talks came a day after the two armies began a limited disengagement in a few areas in Galwan Valley and Hot Spring in a demonstration of their intent to ease tension along the LAC, the de-facto border between the two countries.
“The Indian side put across their views clearly. The Chinese side too explained their position,” the official told PTI on condition of anonymity.
It is learnt that the two sides remained engaged in an aggressive posturing in areas such as Pangong Tso, Daulat Beg Oldie and Demchok though some troops were pulled back from Galwan and Hot Spring.
Military sources on Tuesday said the two armies began “disengagement” around patrolling points 14 and 15 in Galwan Valley and another in the Hot Spring area, adding the Chinese side has even moved back up to 1.5 km in the two areas.
Indian and Chinese troops were in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation since May 5 following a violent clash on the bank of Pangong lake.
Asked about the disengagement, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson told reporters in Beijing that Indian and Chinese troops have started implementing the “positive consensus” reached by the senior military officials of the two countries on June 6. “Recently the diplomatic and military channels of China and India held effective communication on the situation along the border and reached positive consensus,” the spokesperson said.
After the standoff began in early last month, Indian military leadership decided that Indian troops will adopt a firm approach in dealing with the aggressive posturing by the Chinese troops in all disputed areas of Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie. (PTI)
