BOTH SIDES TO PUSH FOR ‘EARLY DE-ESCALATION OF FRONTLINE TROOPS’
NEW DELHI: The Indian Army and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) agreed to push for “early disengagement” of their frontline troops at friction areas on the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh during the ninth round of military talks held at Moldo on Sunday, a joint statement by both armies said.
NEW DELHI: The Indian Army and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) agreed to push for “early disengagement” of their frontline troops at friction areas on the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh during the ninth round of military talks held on Sunday. The talks went on for 16 hours. Advancing de-escalation was also agreed upon during the talks.
“They also agreed to follow the important consensus of their state leaders, maintain the good momentum of dialogue and negotiation, and hold the 10th round of the corps commander-level meeting at an early date to jointly advance de-escalation,” a joint statement said on Monday.
Indian and Chinese military commanders held the ninth round of talks to defuse LAC tensions at Moldo on the Chinese side of the LAC at a time when frontline soldiers are deployed eyeball-to-eyeball at friction points. The statement said the two sides had a “candid and in-depth exchange of views” on disengagement along the LAC in the western sector of India-china border areas. “The two sides agreed that this (9th) round of meeting was positive, practical and constructive, which further enhanced mutual trust and understanding,” it said.
India and China will continue their efforts to ensure that frontline troops exercise restraint, with focus on stabilising and controlling the situation along the LAC, the statement added.
India has consistently pushed for comprehensive disengagement at all flashpoints and restoration of status quo ante of early April 2020 during the ongoing military talks whereas the Chinese side has been insisting that the Indian Army first pull back troops deployed on strategic heights on the southern bank of Pangong Tso.
The statement did not elaborate on how the two sides plan to progress with disengagement, given the differing positions that have existed till now.
“While the joint statement talks of early disengagement and advancing de-escalation, we should not read too much into it. Unless there is a clear blueprint and plan for disengagement, there will be no breakthrough. It’s quite obvious that both sides are unable to arrive at a common consensus on what this blueprint should be,” said former Northern Army commander Lieutenant General DS Hooda (retd).
The proposals discussed at the ninth round of talks will now be discussed at higher levels on both sides before concrete steps can be taken to reduce border tensions, officials familiar with the talks said. India has made all preparations to hold ground in Ladakh for an extended duration.
On January 12, Indian Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane said that the army was prepared to hold ground in eastern Ladakh “for as long as it takes” to achieve national objectives in case the ongoing military and diplomatic talks with China are prolonged.