60 days on, LAC remains tense

nNEW DELHI: Exactly two months after a violent face-off near Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh brought the latest round of border tensions with China to the fore, the situation along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC) remains tense and unpredictable with the stand-off showing no signs of easing even five days after top military commanders agreed to work on an “expeditious, phased and step-wise de-escalation” of the ongoing conflict “on priority,” people familiar with the matter said on Sunday.

“Neither has anything changed on the ground nor is it expected to anytime soon. There has been no disengagement of troops at the friction points or de-escalation of conflict,” one of the persons cited above said requesting anonymity.

The two months saw hostilities grow between the two armies, aggressive posturing by both sides, multiple rounds of military and diplomatic-level negotiations yielding no breakthrough.

The disengagement of Indian and Chinese troops at face-off sites and the de-escalation of the conflict may make slow progress because of deep distrust.

It is becoming increasingly clear that both armies are likely to hold their positions in the region till the onset of winter (September), said a second person. 9 12

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Reports of tension building up in Galwan Valley emerge.

As tension simmers in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley and Hot Springs, China’s foreign ministry accuses Indian soldiers of trespassing across the LAC

The external affairs ministry says Indian activities entirely on the Indian side of the LAC and China hindering India’s normal patrolling patterns.

Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane makes a low-key visit to Leh HQS 14 Corps for a security review

Defence minister Rajnath Singh says India, China are talking to each other at military and diplomatic levels to resolve the issue 6 9

Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, comm -ander of Leh-based 14 Corps, and Major General Liu Lin, commander of the PLA in the South Xinjiang region, discuss a disengagement plan.

Army officers say China has begun withdrawing its soldiers from three hotspots, with India reciprocating.