New Delhi: A marathon military meeting was held between Indian and Chinese military commanders to thrash out the tensions at the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh. The meeting, which began at 11:30 am, lasted nearly 11 hours, even as preparations are being made for a diplomatic meeting between the countries.
Army sources said the meeting between Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, the 14 Corps Commander, and his Chinese counterpart, Major General Lin Liu, commander of the South Xinjiang Military District, continued till around 10:30 pm Monday.
The commanders were accompanied by various others in charge of multiple points where their forces are in a standoff.
The meeting held at the Chushul-Moldo point on the Chinese side of the LAC was the second one at this level since tensions began early May. There has been massive mobilisation of troops and firepower on both sides since.
Sources told ThePrint that Lt Gen Singh was to raise the issue of the “premeditated and planned action” by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), which led to the deaths of the 20 soldiers and injuries to several others in a deadly clash in the Galwan Valley late last Monday.
The two sides were to also focus on deescalation steps that need to be taken to ensure the tensions reduce at the LAC. This includes phase-wise withdrawal of troops from various locations and future patrol plans.
Also read: ‘Galwan intruders were repulsed’: Govt says Army given free hand to deal with transgressions
Sticking points
One of the main sticking points is the ‘Finger Area’ of the Pangong lake, where the Chinese have come in till ‘Finger 4’ from Sirijap Post, which lies beyond ‘Finger 8’. India’s perception of the LAC lies beyond Finger 8.
The Chinese have brought in a large number of men and equipment into this area, while India has also boosted its deployment with fresh induction of troops, including specialised forces trained for tactical operations.
As reported by ThePrint, the government has changed the rules of engagement at the LAC, and the new rules do not stop security personnel from using force, including firearms in exceptional situations, to counter the Chinese aggression and transgressions.
India has moved in over two division strengths of additional men and equipment into Eastern Ladakh, which includes artillery and mechanised columns.
Meanwhile, sources said the two sides are likely to hold diplomatic talks at the joint secretary level soon to smoothen the tensions between the two militaries.
Also read: Army commanders meet in Delhi to discuss India-China tensions, ‘escalatory trends’ at LAC
Leave J&K to it’s people as demilitarized zone.
We need the following to prevent further armed conflicts and subterfuge:
– videotape of entire meeting to be publicly available (with translations). Put it on Youtube or UN website.
– agreement on LAC (including no-man’s lands) with precise latitude and longitudes signed with digital signatures on both sides and submitted to the UN
– LAC available on Google Maps to all people in the world
– erection of marker poles at the LAC
– 24×7 video surveillance of the marker poles in place by both governments.
When the p.m.is saying no one has entered our border nor any one is in it or holding any postthen where is the question of holding talks at any level when sab kuch changa si.unnecesarilly waisting time.we must believe the p.m. he never speak lies..the army personnel of both sides must have died of normal death.
Wish for success of peaceful negotiation.
India should prefer getting back all the occupied land back instead.Mr.Modi should be clear on what he said instead of repeating Ex P.M.Nehru in1962.
War is not solution
11 hours or 110 hours……..what was the outcome??…………Is China ready to give back Indian land or not.??………….that is the question ????
Chengez, PM said no Indian land was taken. If China took something, it belonged to them. You had the wrong perception. End of the matter.