There is no sign of an early breakthrough in Chumar, ladakh where the Indian and the Chinese troops are engaged in prolonged stand-off.
A flag meeting between the two sides on Tuesday evening failed to resolve the deadlocks as China asserted it will continue with the road construction work in the region. It also rejected India’s proposal for gradual reduction of troops. The Army and other security agencies will brief Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the development on Wednesday, a day before he leaves for the US.
China also rejected India’s proposal to increase the distance between the troops which are now in an eyeball-to- eyeball situation. This was the first such flag meeting between the two sides since the stand-off began 12 days ago. Tuesday’s flag meeting was sought by the Chinese.
During the earlier flag meetings, the PlA has demanded that the Indian Army dismantle its recently-fabricated patrol huts at three relay points in Chumar area, including 30 R at Tibley. The relay points are identified in a six digit grid reference points and are classified. But with clear instructions from the top, the Army has refused to oblige them this time around, highly-placed Government sources said.
In a similar case of stand-off last year in Chumar, the PlA had destroyed a post and took away the surveillance cameras installed at the post.
The Indian side has asked the PlA to stop road construction beyond the perceived line of Actual Control (lAC).
The Army and the ITBP had stopped them from advancing any further or allowing them with their construction activities.
Sources said the Directorate General of Military Operations is keeping the Prime Minister’s Office and the Defence Ministry informed about the developments in Chumar on a regular basis, they said.
Meanwhile, the high profile China Study Group on Tuesday advised the Government not to grant any concession to the PlA troops.
The China Study Group is a high level body headed by the NSA and includes Defence, Home and External Affairs secretaries as members. Secretary Security and heads of Intelligence agencies are also included in the discussions.
Sources said India has raised shelter huts for the troops deployed there from icy winds and sub-zero temperatures. A hut is designed to accommodate a platoon of force’s personnel.
The PlA troops are said to have taken position in such a manner that they exercise influence in about 15 square kilometre area. But they are mostly positioned in “depressions” and the Army and the ITBP enjoy a considerable positional advantage, the sources said.
While incursions have been increasing from the Chinese side over the last three to four years, the Army and the ITBP have also significantly increased the frequency of their patrolling in the area.
While the number of incursions reported in 2011 stood at about 240, the figure jumped to 426 in 2012, 411 in 2013 and over 400 incidents have already been reported this year. The number could increase as they can intrude in the area till October, the sources added.
With no resolution in sight at the moment, India is counting on weather that might forces China to retreat by the end of October or the first week of November when the temperatures dip to as low as minus 30 degree Celcius.
Meanwhile, diplomatic channels are holding parleys at different levels to diffuse the situation even as India made it clear that the country’s border security was in safe hands.
India’s response came a day after Chinese President Xi Jinping asked the PlA to be combat ready to win a “regional war”.
The Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry also said, “Following up on the meeting of the two leaders, diplomacy is underway, we are addressing those issues expeditiously, quietly, and at various levels in different places.”
Asked about the continued stand-off in Chumar and Demchok, a spokesperson did not give direct reply and only said that border issues are best handled by those who are placed there.
Asked about Xi’s comments, he parried a direct answer, saying, “We are confident that our border security is in hands which will ensure our safety and security.”