LAC talks resume, commanders to meet after 2 mnths

BEIJING/NEW DELHI: Diplomatic talks between India and China on the standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) after a gap of more than two months ended on Thursday without signs of an immediate breakthrough, though the two sides agreed to hold another meeting of military commanders to push for disengagement in Ladakh sector.

Separate statements issued by the two sides after a virtual meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs gave no indications of forward movement in the disengagement and de-escalation process at friction points in the western sector of the LAC, though they acknowledged that talks between military commanders had contributed to stability on the ground.

The external affairs ministry said in its statement the two sides reviewed developments on the LAC since the last meeting of WMCC on September 30 and agreed to “continue to work towards ensuring complete disengagement in all friction points along the LAC in the Western Sector at the earliest”.

This process should be in line with guidance from senior leaders of both sides and agreements reached by the two foreign ministers and Special Representatives on the boundary issue, the statement added.

A readout from the Chinese embassy said the two sides had “candid and in-depth exchange of views” on the situation along the LAC and focused on the

“disengagement of frontline troops”.

The two sides also “agreed to earnestly implement the fivepoint consensus” reached by the foreign ministers during a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in September.

Both sides noted the positive impact of meetings between the military commanders. The last two rounds of military talks were joined by Naveen Srivastava, joint secretary (East Asia) of the external affairs ministry, who also co-chairs WMCC.

The Indian statement said the two sides noted that the seventh and eighth round of talks between military commanders on October 12 and November 6 had “contributed to ensuring stability on the ground”, and added the next round of military talks should be held at “an early date”. The Chinese readout said the two sides “spoke highly of the outcomes of the 8th round of senior commanders meeting”, and the 9th round should be held “as soon as possible”.

However, experts pointed to a gap between the two statements.

The Indian statement said the next meeting of military commanders should lead to “early and complete disengagement of troops along the LAC”, whereas the Chinese readout only spoke about maintaining “peace and tranquillity” and dealing with issues on the ground to “further de-escalate the border situation”.

Former ambassador Vishnu Prakash said a gap remains between India wanting restoration of status quo ante on the LAC, and China wanting the two sides to meet half way.