With China stalling a pull back and India insisting on a complete disengagement from “friction points” at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, the all-powerful China Study Group (CSG) on Tuesday will review the outcome of the fifth round of Corps Commander level talks that were held on Sunday. The CSG comprises top brass of the defence, external affairs and home ministries besides the National Security Advisor (NSA).
The military-level talks between Lt General Harinder Singh and Major General Liu Lin at Moldo near the LAC in Chushul, Ladakh, on Sunday, lasted more than 10 hours after starting at 11.00 am. While an official statement is yet to come, sources said here on Monday that India asked China to step up the withdrawal of its troops from the Pangong Tso (lake).
In fact, the CSG in its meeting last week also favoured complete disengagement by China as a major confidence building measure to defuse tension. The government may give details of the latest round of Corps Commander talks to end the 10-week-old impasse at the LAC after the crucial CSG session on Tuesday, sources added.
The CSG was set up in 1976 by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to advise on policy issues relating to China and includes top secretaries and military and intelligence officials. It was initially headed by the Foreign Secretary.
Though appreciating the position that China has substantially reduced and withdrawn its troops from Galwan valley, Gogra and Hot Springs, the Indian security establishment is, however, concerned that the Chinese troops have not withdrawn from the contentious Pangong Tso. In fact, the first face-off took place at this place on May 5 when the Chinese intruded more than five km into India and obstructed an Indian army patrol. It led to exchange of blows.
Since then, the Chinese bolstered its troop strength there forcing India to take preventive steps to thwart any major challenge, sources said adding as per the latest satellite photographs of the Pangong Tso the Chinese have not gone back though agreed upon in the last round of Commander-level talks.
The Chinese continue to occupy positions in depth on slopes along ‘Finger 5’ and on slopes extending towards ‘Finger 8.’ India maintains the LAC is at Finger 8. Mountain spurs are called Finger. However, China is insisting that the LAC is at ‘Finger 4.’
Besides deploying on the crucial spurs, the Chinese have also built a jetty in the Indian side of the Pangong Lake and moved several fast interceptor boats thereby posing a threat to the Indian security interests, they said.
Flagging its concern on the tardy pace of disengagement, India last week said the process of disengagement of troops in eastern Ladakh has not yet been completed though some progress has been made.
This was a counter to China’s claim that frontline forces of the two countries have “completed” this exercise at most locations along their border.
After the last round of talks between the Corps Commanders, the statement said India and China have been engaged in discussions through established military and diplomatic channels to address the prevailing situation along the LAC.
The engagement(July 14) was consistent with the consensus reached between the Special Representatives of India and China earlier, on July 5, to discuss complete disengagement.
The Senior Commanders reviewed the progress on implementation of the first phase of disengagement and discussed further steps to ensure complete disengagement. The two sides remain committed to the objective of complete disengagement. This process is intricate and requires constant verification. They are taking it forward through regular meetings at diplomatic and military level.