Doval heads to Beijing for 25th round of India-China border talks

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on Monday to hold the 25th round of Special Representatives (SR) talks on the India-China boundary issue with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi. The two sides are set to hold discussions on Tuesday, according to official sources.

Doval and Wang, who serve as the designated Special Representatives for the boundary talks mechanism established in 2003, are expected to address issues concerning the Line of Actual Control (LAC), border management, troop deployment and the broader state of bilateral relations.

The talks assume particular significance as they come weeks ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's anticipated visit to India for the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, scheduled for September 12-13. While there has been no formal confirmation of Xi's visit, officials on both sides remain optimistic about the Chinese leader’s participation, according to media reports. 

The meeting also comes amid recent allegations of transgressions by Chinese forces in Arunachal Pradesh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), claims that India has largely dismissed and that the Defence Ministry has not formally clarified. 

(This is a Developing story)