With the stand-offs continuing for the ninth month at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India and China held yet another round of diplomatic-level parleys on Friday to break the logjam. There was no breakthrough, but both the sides agreed to sustain the process of dialogue and ensure speedy disengagement at the border.
The latest round of diplomatic level talks under the aegis of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was held nearly 11 weeks after the last round on September 30.
These talks, though inconclusive, could pave the way for the ninth round of Corps Commander-level talks between the armies of the two countries. The two commanders had met last on November 6 but of now no avail.
Given the apparent mistrust at present, India has ramped up its military preparedness and has deployed additional mountain warfare trained troops for the winter months all along the 1,700 km long LAC in Ladakh. More than one lakh troops from both the sides are facing each other in the Ladakh sector.
In the virtual WMCC talks, the sixth since the face-offs began in early May, the Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary (East Asia) from the Ministry of External Affairs Naveen Srivastava. The Director General of the Department of Boundary & Oceanic Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hong Liang led the Chinese delegation.
The two sides reviewed the developments along the LAC since the last round of the WMCC, the External Affairs Ministry said here.
The two sides agreed that based on the guidance provided by senior leaders and the agreements reached between the two Foreign Ministers and Special Representatives, they would continue to work towards ensuring complete disengagement in all friction points along the LAC in the Western Sector at the earliest.
The two sides noted that the 7th and 8th rounds of Senior Commanders meetings held on October 12 and November 6 respectively had in-depth discussions in this regard and that these discussions had also contributed to ensuring stability on the ground.
Both sides agreed to maintain close consultations at the diplomatic and military level. They agreed that the next (9th) round of Senior Commanders meeting should be held at an early date so that both sides can work towards early and complete disengagement of troops along the LAC in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements and protocols, and fully restore peace and tranquility.
Airing more or less same views, the official Chinese communiqué also said the two sides had candid and in-depth exchange of views on the situation along the LAC.
The two delegations agreed to earnestly implement the five-point consensus reached between the foreign ministers of both countries at the Moscow meeting. The talks also focused on the disengagement of front-line troops and take concrete measures to deal with the issues on the ground to further deescalate the border situation. The two delegations also reiterated their commitment to continue dialogue at the military and diplomatic level.
India on Thursday had stressed the need for further discussions with China for a mutually acceptable solution for complete disengagement at the LAC.