India and China have reaffirmed their commitment to find ways to defuse the ongoing stand-offs at the friction points at the Line of Actual Control (LAC)in Eastern Ladakh for the last nearly two years. The two sides also agreed to maintain peace and stability at the border in the interim.
These were the main takeaways from the nearly 12-hour long Corps Commander level talks between India and China at Chushul border meeting point in Ladakh on Friday. It was the 15th round of talks between the two commanders since the face-offs began in May 2020. The 14th round of talks was held on January 12 without a major breakthrough. There were no major expectations from the latest round, sources said here on Saturday.
Chief of 14 Corps Lt General Lt General Anindya Sengupta led the Indian delegation while Major General Yang Lin represented China at the parleys.
In a joint statement issued on Saturday, the two countries said “The 15th round China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting was held at Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side on 11th March 2022. The two sides carried forward their discussions from the previous round held on 12th January 2022 for the resolution of the relevant issues along the LAC in the Western Sector.
They had a detailed exchange of views in this regard, in keeping with the guidance provided by the State Leaders to work for the resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest. They reaffirmed that such a resolution would help restore peace and tranquility along the LAC in the Western Sector and facilitate progress in bilateral relations.
The two sides also agreed to maintain the security and stability on the ground in the Western Sector in the interim. They agreed to maintain dialogue via military and diplomatic channels to reach a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest,” the statement said.
In the 14th round of Corps Commander-level meeting, the two sides agreed to maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels to work out a “mutually acceptable resolution” of the remaining issues of the standoff at eastern Ladakh.
Ahead of the latest round of talks, sources in the security establishment had said 14 rounds of talks till now have resulted in resolution of North and South Bank of Pangong Tso, Galwan and Gogra Hot Spring areas. Both sides will now focus to achieve resolution of balance friction areas. Recent statements by both sides to find a mutually acceptable solution have been encouraging and positive in nature.”
While troops disengaged from the above mentioned flash points in February last year, friction points now persist at Depsang valley, Demchok and patrolling points in the Hot Springs area.
India has all along maintained that restoration of status quo ante as existing prior to May 2020 be restored for normalizing of bilateral ties with China.
At present, more than 50,000 troops each from both the sides are deployed in the front at the LAC in eastern Ladakh leading to tension.
In fact, the frontline troops did not retreat to their bases during the winter months for the second year in a row given the situation at the LAC in eastern Ladakh.