How the complex negotiations unfolded
The Indian Army and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have held 11 rounds of talks between corps commander-ranked officers since June 6, 2020, to reduce tensions along the disputed border. A look at how the talks panned out:
2020
JUNE 6: The two armies held the first round of military talks. Limited disengagement followed at Galwan Valley, Hot Springs and Gogra. However, the Galwan Valley skirmish on June 15, 2020, created severe complications and dashed hopes of any significant breakthrough.
June 22: Both sides reached a mutual consensus to disengage from all friction areas along the LAC. No progress on ground.
June 30: At the third round of talks, both armies stressed on the need for an expeditious, phased and step-wise de-escalation of the border conflict on priority.
JULY 14: The two armies said they remain committed to “complete disengagement,” which is an “intricate process” and “requires constant verification.”
August 2: Top Indian and Chinese military commanders met for the fifth time, negotiations made no progress due to serious differences between the two armies in the Finger Area near Pangong Tso.
SEPTEMBER 21: The sixth round of talks took place weeks after the Indian Army swiftly moved and occupied a series of key heights to prevent the PLA from grabbing Indian territory on the southern bank of Pangong Tso in a stealthy midnight move on August 29.
October 12: India and China agreed to continue the dialogue process to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution for early disengagement in the eastern Ladakh theatre.
November 6: The two armies agreed “to exercise restraint and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation” along the LAC.
2021
JANUARY 24: During the ninth round of talks, the two sides agreed to push for “early disengagement” of their frontline troops at frictions areas on the LAC. Disengagement in the Pangong Tso sector took place after these talks. February 20: Both sides agreed to resolve outstanding issues at other friction points in a “steady and orderly” manner, were unanimous that the Pangong Tso disengagement provided “a good basis” for resolving pending problems. APRIL 9: During the 11th round of talks, the Indian Army told the PLA that disengagement at all friction points on the disputed border was crucial for the de-escalation of the conflict.
“Disengagement is just the first phase of a broader plan of establishing the status quo ante of April 2020...” Gen M Naravane, army chief