India, China agree on solution

First agreement likely to be on Gogra-Hot Springs point

India and China during the 10th Corps Commanders meeting on Saturday agreed to push for a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues in a steady and orderly manner.

Indian and Chinese Corps Commanders on Saturday held a 16 hour long marathon meeting to discuss disengagement from Depsang plains and GograHotsprings friction points in Ladakh. The joint statement issued on Sunday on the Corps Commanders meeting said that the two sides positively appraised the smooth completion of disengagement of frontline troops 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 in Western Sector." The statement said that the Corps Commanders "had candid and in-depth exchange of views on other issues along the LAC in the Western 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, 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," it added.

The meeting was held in Moldo on Chinese side and started at around 10 am and went way past the midnight to end at 2 am. The Indian delegation was led by 14 Corps commander LtGeneral PGK Menon. Naveen Srivastava, Joint Secretary (East Asia) from the ministry of external affairs was also part of Indian delegation.

The 10th round of Corps Commanders was held after Indian and Chinese troops completed disengagement from Pangong Tso in Eastern Ladakh after nine months of stand-off. India and China are now discussing modalities of the second phase of disengagement in Depsang, Gogra, Hotsprings and Demchok.

It is expected that India and China will first be able to reach an agreement on Gogra-Hot Springs. Even last year both sides had agreed to move back their troops from these two friction points. As per the understanding last year a buffer zone on both sides of the LAC was to be created in these areas of stand-off. However the disengagement was not fully implemented at Gogra-Hotsprings.

In Depsang plains, Chinese troops are blocking Indian patrol teams from going to Patrolling Points 10 to 13. A Major General level meeting was also held on August 8 last year at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) to discuss disengagement at the Depsang plains.

Indian and Chinese Corps Commanders on Saturday held a 16 hour long marathon meeting to discuss disengagement from Depsang plains and Gogra-Hotsprings friction points in Ladakh