The stand-off between the armies of India and China at the line of Actual Control (lAC) in Chumar and the face off between the civilians of both the countries in Demchok continued for the eighth and tenth day respectively on Friday.
India has refused to retreat in Chumar stating that its troops are well within their territory while China claims that Indian troops have entered six km inside its territory to stop construction of a road. Given this situation on the ground the Indian Army, along with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) will continue to hold its positions on the high ground and mountaintops in Chumar and Demchok till the Chinese Army withdraws to its original locations across the lAC, sources said here on Friday.
Elaborating on the Demchok face off, sources said while Chinese shepherds have pitched tents on a grazing ground in Indian territory to protest against the construction of a canal there, a contingent of the Chinese Army is also present there to back them. This has forced the Indian Army to move its troops forward while Indian shepherds have also erected tents there.
The pasture is used both by Indian and Chinese shepherds to graze their sheep. The Chinese normally return to their side by September end when the grass starts withering due to intense cold. However, this time they are staying put and displaying banners against the construction, officials said adding that the construction of the canal is on for the last six years.
With two flag meetings on Monday and Wednesday failing to resolve the stand-off in Chumar, officials said there was little possibility of another flag meeting between local commanders of the two armies. The impasse would now be resolved at the diplomatic and political level, they said.
At present, nearly 1,000 Chinese troops and 1,500 Indian troops are in an eyeball-to- eyeball situation at a place called Tibley in Chumar. This position, known in Army parlance as 30R, is at a height of more than 14,000 feet and temperatures have already dipped to minus two degrees.India is at an advantageous position there as its posts are well connected with roads while the Chinese have to trek some kilometres before coming to the last point at the lAC. In fact, this was the main reason behind them building a road. However, the Indian Army maintains it is Indian territory.
The Chinese are supporting their troops engaged in the face off by air dropping food packets while vehicles are ferrying food and other essential supplies to Indian troops. The two armies are now maintaining a distance of 500 metres from each other unlike 100 metres till two days ago.Meanwhile, the ongoing impasse may cast a shadow on the forthcoming joint exercise called ‘Hand in Hand’ between the two armies in Bathinda, Punjab in November.
The Indian Army is yet to finalise the dates and related details of the schedule, officials said. Incidentally, the two armies did conduct the joint exercise in November in China after the nearly month-long face off in Depsang Valley in ladakh in May.
Face off in ladakh