India, China talk to end Ladakh standoff

New Delhi: India and China held another round of Major General level talks on Friday to try to de-escalate more than one month of military stand-off in the Ladakh Sector. According to sources, the main focus of the talks on Friday was to defuse tensions between the troops from the two sides in the Galwan and Hot Springs areas. The Indian side was led by 3 Infantry Division commander Major Gen. Abhijit Bapat. In Galwan and Hot Springs area, there has already been some thinning of the troops from both sides at three flash points. But still, a large number of troops are deployed at the rear side at these points.

India and China held another round of majorgeneral level talks on Friday to try to de-escalate more-than-one-month of military standoff in the Ladakh sector.

According to sources, the main focus of the talks on Friday was to defuse tension between the troops from the two sides in the Galwan and Hot Springs areas. The Indian side was led by 3 Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Abhijit Bapat.

In Galwan and Hot Springs area, there has already been some thinning of the troops from both sides at three flash points. But a large number of troops are still deployed at the rear side at these points. The bilateral military talks are aimed at reduction of troops from these rear sides too so that situation could be de-escalated further in the coming days.

Indian and Chinese military officials have been talking at various levels in the Ladakh sector to defuse tension. Major generals from the two sides had earlier met on Wednesday. These are follow-up of the lieutenant general level talks which were held between the Indian and Chinese armies on June 6.

However, the main contention between the Indian and Chinese troops still remains the Northern bank of Pangong Tso lake where Chinese troops have pitched tents at finger 4 location to prevent the Indian Army to patrol till Finger 8 which India claims is part of its territory. The troops from the two sides were involved in a brutal clash at Pangong Tso on the intervening night of May 5-6. Another round of lieutenant general level talks may be held in the coming days to try to resolve the Pangong Tso issue.

While both sides have held military and diplomatic talks to resolve the standoff, there is massive build-up by both armies along with artillery, aircraft, radars, UAVs, jammers, armoured vehicles and tanks in their indepth areas along the whole line of actual control (LAC) from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh. The deployment by Indian Army along the LAC is part of SOP in such situations to prevent China from taking advantage at any other point and was done last month.

IN GALWAN and Hot Springs area, there has already been some thinning of the troops from both sides at three flash points. But a large number of troops are still deployed at the rear side at these points.