New Delhi: India on Sunday stressed the need for early withdrawal of troops at the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh during the 13th round of military talks with China.
News agency PTI quoted sources in the security establishment as saying that the talks lasted for about eight and a half hours.
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According to the report, the main focus of the Corps Commander level talks was to complete the paused leave at Patrol Point 15 (PP-15).
The talks, which began at 10:30 am on the Chinese side of the Chushul-Moldo border point in eastern Ladakh, ended at 7 pm.
The 13th round of talks took place more than two months after the last round of talks, which resulted in the withdrawal of troops from Gogra (patrol point-17A).
India has been emphasizing that the resolution of outstanding issues across all friction points, including Depsang, is crucial for the overall improvement in relations between the two countries.
While there was no official comment on the talks, the Indian delegation is understood to have strongly conveyed this view to the Chinese side while pressing for de-escalation of tensions in Depsang, PTI reported.
In Sunday’s talks, the Indian delegation was led by Lt Gen PGK Menon, Commander of the 14 Corps based in Leh.
The latest talks came in the backdrop of two recent incidents of attempted incursions by Chinese troops – one in the Barahoti sector of Uttarakhand and the other in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh.
About 10 days ago, there was a brief face-off between Indian and Chinese troops near Yangtse in Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh. According to the PTI report, the issue was resolved within a few hours after talks as per the established protocol between the commanders of both the sides.
On August 30, around 100 personnel of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China violated the LAC in the Barahoti sector of Uttarakhand and returned from the area after spending a few hours.
Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane had on Saturday said that if the Chinese Army continues its massive deployment in the eastern Ladakh region, the Indian Army will also maintain its strength from its side, which he said was “as is”. “What the PLA has done is good.”
India-China border standoff
India and China held the 12th round of talks on 31 July, after which the two armies completed the process of dissolution at Gogra. It was seen as an important forward movement towards restoring peace and tranquility in the region.
The border standoff between Indian and Chinese armies started on May 5 last year after violent clashes in the Pangong Lake areas. Both sides gradually increased their deployment by carrying thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weapons.
As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the demilitarization process in the Gogra region in August.
In February, India and China completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the northern and southern banks of Pangong Lake in line with an agreement on secession.
Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the sensitive area.
(with agency input)
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