New Delhi: The gridlock in eastern Ladakh continues despite a high-level meeting of seven-and-a-half hours between Indian and Chinese military commanders to resolve the month-long crisis on Saturday with ground situation remaining the same.
The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement Sunday on the talks held Saturday saying “the two sides will continue the military and diplomatic engagements to resolve the situation and to ensure peace and tranquility in the border areas”.
Sources said the meeting, which started around 11.30 am and ended at 7 pm, focussed on understanding each other’s point of contention in eastern Ladakh, paving the way for higher diplomatic parleys.
The Indian delegation was led by 14 Corps Commander Lt Gen Harinder Singh who had to stay back in Chushul for the night as the flying time was over when the talks held at the Chushul-Moldo border personnel meeting point on the Chinese side ended.
The last helicopter flight allowed in the sector in normal circumstances is around 5 pm, and that too for casualty evacuation whereas normal flying is restricted after around 2 pm.
ThePrint had Saturday evening reported, quoting sources in the security establishment, that no one should expect the situation to calm down with just one meeting, indicating that more parleys would take place at various levels, including diplomatic.
The MEA statement said a “meeting was held between the Corps Commander based in Leh and the Chinese Commander on 6 June 2020 in the Chushul-Moldo region”.
The meeting follows a month-long standoff between the two nations in Ladakh along the western sector of the border.
Also read: ‘April status quo’ discussed as India, China generals hold 7-hour meeting over Ladakh
India demanded ‘April status quo’
Sources in the know said the Indian side demanded that the Chinese maintain the status quo as of early April this year.
This meant the Chinese would have to pull back the troop build-up along the Line of Actual Control in Galwan Valley and go back from the transgressions point in the larger Hot Spring Area and the Finger Area of the Pangong Lake.
“The main point of contention is the Finger 4 area of Pangong Lake where the Chinese have come in and built structures to stop the Indian patrol team from going ahead,” a source said.
There were multiple rounds of meetings, including sessions on point of contention in the Pangong Lake where the Chinese have built a bunker and moat-like structure between Finger 3 and 4 to prevent Indian patrol teams from moving ahead.
India claims that the LAC runs till Finger 8. Interestingly, the Chinese had managed to build a road till Finger 5 in 1999 when the Indian troops were diverted from the area to fight the Kargil battle.
India had been trying to build a road from Finger 2, which it dominates, to three and further to help its soldiers travel faster.
The sources said while the Chinese take about less than half an hour to reach down to Finger 4 from its holding point of Srijap, Indian soldiers take about two hours at the minimum because they have to gather greater distance on foot.
The sources told ThePrint that the Chinese, as expected, raised objections to a host of Indian construction activities along the LAC.
The Chinese objections were primarily due to the fact that once the construction activities are completed, the Chinese tactical advantage, as far as movement is concerned, will be over, they said.
No breakthrough, long standoff expected
The sources also said while the Saturday talks were held in a “positive atmosphere”, there was no breakthrough and the ground situation remains the same.
“The meeting on Saturday was to put each other’s point at a higher level. This is not a tactical level issue which will be sorted out through talks at tactical level. More talks will be held and we are prepared for the long haul if needed,” a source said.
The MEA statement said, “Both sides agreed to peacefully resolve the situation in the border areas in accordance with various bilateral agreements and keeping in view the agreement between the leaders that peace and tranquility in the India-China border regions is essential for the overall development of bilateral relations.”
As reported by ThePrint earlier, India has moved a large number of men and material into Ladakh since the stand-off began in early May.
Also read: Northern Commander in Ladakh, Army moves more troops amid standoff with China
China will back soon at his previous place…….
ISRO Gaganyaan mission on a lookout for inflatable habitats, space food
• The announcement of opportunities shows that ISRO is on a lookout for technologies that can establish long term research as well as plan for necessary facilities. This includes human resource development for optimal utilization of experimental applications and technological developments.
• ISRO is currently looking for 18 technologies including radiation hazards characterisation and mitigation techniques, space food and related technologies, inflatable habitats technology, human robotic interfaces, thermal protection systems, environmental control and life support systems, green propulsion, advanced materials, debris management and mitigation, energy harness and storage, in-situ 3d manufacturing technologies for space, fluid technology and management, space bioengineering, bioastronautics, simulated gravity technologies, human psychology for long term missions, space medicine and diagnosis, any other relevant technology related to human space program.
China is publicly kicking Indian military arse…………….With a military of 1.3 million , Indian army chief has not dared to utter a single word regarding Chinese occupation of Indian land. Same is the case with IAF chief who three weeks back was threatening Pakistan 24/7 response, seems to have totally lost his tongue. It is China which has invaded India but it is India that is begging for diplomatic solution. The entire patriotic Indian media is dead along with all famous retired generals…incl. Good ol Bakshi………….Shameful !!!
Changez k is obviously a frustrated Paki suffering from a verbal diorreah because of Paki terrorists being killed on a daily basis. Sunni pig, Indian army is there for a long haul, wait and watch what happens. Only the Indian army knows what’s happening, you are just daydreaming.
because of this behavior of China
All countries are angry on China.
India wants diplomatic talk
Because India likes peace not war.
India wants to do a development in the country. Not want to do a war or not want try to threat other countries like China is doing.
But if any country will try to enter in India border without it’s permission then India will punish them.
China have already entered Galwan valley and taken up positions at heights hitherto in our control
That clearly indicates the difference between China and Pakistan, doesn’t it ? Know it well, Chengez. By the way, it would be appropriate if you changed your name. You don’t quite deserve to take the name of that great conquerer.
– Ravindra Parasnis
Our brave soldiers should dig in for the long haul.