India and China on Monday resolved to continue the process of dialogue to restore normalcy at the border in Ladakh during the military level talks between the Corps Commanders of the two sides. Both the delegations also agreed to find a way out to disengage from the friction points in Depsang and Demchok at the earliest.
It was the 19th round of talks between the two military commanders since trouble erupted at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh in May 2020. Moreover, these talks were held days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jingping are likely to meet on the sidelines of the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) summit in Johannesburg on August 22-24.
The Chinese President is also expected to visit New Delhi in September for the G-20 summit.
As regards the latest round of Corps Commander level talks on Monday, it took place at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side at the LAC, sources said here adding the parleys began at 9.30 AM.
The Indian delegation was led by Lt-General Rashim Bali, the Commander of the Leh-headquartered 14 Corps. The Chinese team was headed by the commander of the South Xinjiang military district.
The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in an over three-year confrontation in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks.
In the 18th round of the military dialogue held on April 23, India strongly pressed for resolving the lingering issues at Depsang and Demchok.
Last month, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke on the need to stabilise bilateral relations at a dinner during the G-20 summit in Bali last year.
On July 24, National Security Advisor(NSA) Ajit Doval met top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of a meeting of the five-nation grouping BRICS in Johannesburg.
In its statement on the meeting, the MEA said Doval conveyed that the situation along the LAC in the western sector of the India-China boundary since 2020 had “eroded strategic trust” and the public and political basis of the relationship.