China talks very positive: Rajnath

Minister to make a statement in Parliament; reviews situation with CDS, service chiefs

Defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday that talks between top military commanders of India and China have been “very positive” and both countries have agreed that further talks will be held to resolve the current “tussle” at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Reacting to the demand of opposition parties for a clarification on the IndiaChina standoff, Mr Singh said he will make a statement on the standoff only in Parliament as he doesn’t want to mislead the people. “As the defence minister of the country I want to say that whatever has to be said I will stand up and say it in Parliament and will not mislead the people of this country,” said Mr Singh.

He said that the border dispute between India and China has been going on for a long time and the government wants “this border dispute resolved as soon as possible.”

The minister also held an hour-long meeting with Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and chiefs of army, navy and air-force to review the outcome of the high level India-China military commanders meeting on Saturday and strategise on the future plans.

According to sources, talks will be held at the local commanders level — Brigade and Commanding officers level — in the coming days in an attempt to resolve the stand-off.

Indian Army’s 14 Corps Commander Lt Gen Harinder Singh and People’s Liberation Army’s South Xinjiang Military Region commander Maj Gen Liu Lin had held an over five-hour long meeting on Saturday in Moldo on the Chinese side of the LAC near Ladakh to resolve the month-long stand-off between the two armies.

India had asked China to reduce the build-up of its troops at the LAC and revert back to the status quo of April in Pangong Tso, Hot Springs and Galwan Valley.