New Delhi: The India-China stand-off in eastern Ladakh continues with dates yet to be decided for a follow-up dialogue to the high-level meeting between top tactical commanders this weekend, ThePrint has learnt.
Sources said the seven-hour meeting between 14 Corps Commander Lt Gen. Harinder Singh and Maj. Gen. Lin Liu, the commander of the South Xinjiang Military District, Saturday involved “exhaustive” discussions.
“Both sides would like to study in detail the points covered before the next round of talks,” a source said.
The source added that the next round of military talks would be at Brigade Commander and Battalion Commander level. A Division Commander-level meeting might happen later, if the need arises, the source said.
For the talks to move forward, the sources said, one of the two sides will have to make the first move through the border hotlines.
“There are two hotlines at the Chushul-Moldo meeting point (where the meeting Saturday was held) and at the Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO)-Ten Wen Den (TWD) meeting point. When the phone rings, both sides will talk about the next course for the talks to continue,” a second source said.
Also Read: How India and China resolved three major stand-offs in the Modi era
Call for talks
India and China have been involved in a stand-off at multiple points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) since May. While the differences largely involve the western sector of the border, there were also reports of a scuffle at Naku La in Sikkim last month.
At the heart of these tensions is a border that is yet to be clearly demarcated.
Even though India and China have both amassed an unprecedented number of troops, artillery, mechanised columns and other equipment along the LAC, with regular air patrols by fighters, both sides have publicly spoken about the need for talks to resolve the situation.
The stand-off began early last month after China diverted troops and equipment from an ongoing exercise deep on their side of the LAC and moved them forward.
While the Chinese have gathered troops along the LAC in the strategically important Galwan Valley, they have transgressed by about three kilometres into the larger Hot Spring area and in the Finger area of Pangong Lake.
Sources said the main issue was with the Chinese bringing in troops into the Finger area and blocking the path from Finger 2 to Finger 8.
The Pangong Lake’s northern bank juts forward like a palm, and the various protrusions are identified as “fingers” to demarcate territory. While India asserts that the LAC starts at Finger 8, the Chinese claim it starts at Finger 2, which India dominates.
During the first of its kind high-level meeting Saturday, India sought a return to the status quo as of early April, which means that the Chinese will have to pull back from the LAC and the points of transgressions.
However, the sources added, the Chinese have so far refused to do so, leading to the current stand-off.
Also Read: India’s Fingers have come under Chinese boots. Denial won’t help us
Is this Indian govt full of idiots…………………….why would China be hurry to have talks??……….it has occupied Indian land not the vice versa !!!
India should occupy some other place four times areas we lostwhere pla is minimal presence.finally we want only land to compensate loss .
Can anyone hammer Into Modi & his merry generals, first law of occupation: What cannot be attained on battle field will never be attained by dialogue…………..Stupids !!!!