‘Will resolve issues in orderly manner’
‘Candid and in-depth exchange of views’ during border talks, say India, China in joint statement
NEW DELHI: Indian and Chinese military commanders had a “candid and in-depth exchange of views” on outstanding issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) during a marathon 16-hour meeting on Saturday, with the two sides agreeing to push for a “mutually acceptable resolution” of the remaining issues “in a steady and orderly manner,” said a joint statement issued on Sunday.
Corps commander-ranked officers of the two armies met at Moldo on the Chinese side of LAC to discuss the roadmap for further disengagement of their troops at friction points on the contested border on February 20, with the talks taking place after the completion of the first round of disengagement in the Pangong Tso sector.
“The two sides agreed to follow the important consensus of their state leaders, continue their communication and dialogue, stabilize and control the situation on the ground, (and) push for a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues in a steady and orderly manner, so as to jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas,” said the statement on the 10th round of military talks.
Saturday’s talks began at 10 am and went on till 2am on Sunday. The two sides “positively appraised” the smooth completion of disengagement process in the Pangong Lake area, noting that it was a significant step forward that provided a good basis for resolution of other remaining issues along the LAC, the statement said.
Outstanding problems with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) at Depsang, Hot Springs and Gogra - friction points on the contested border - were discussed on Saturday
“The proposals discussed during the talks to normalise the border situation will be put up by both sides before their