New Delhi: The Indian Army on Thursday stated that the disengagement process at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China is intricate and “requires constant verification”. It also emphasised that India is taking the de-escalation process forward through “regular meetings at diplomatic and military level”, the media reported.
During a 15-hour long deliberation, Indian and Chinese military delegates reviewed the progress on “implementation of the first phase of disengagement and discussed further steps to ensure complete disengagement” at Eastern Ladakh, a statement issued by the Army said.
Indian delegate’s main agenda of the meeting was complete pull back of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) from Pangong Lake and Depsang areas in Eastern Ladakh.
Indian delegates asked Chinese troops to completely withdraw from Pangong Lake and Depsang.
The Indian Army stated that India and China have been engaged in discussions through established military and diplomatic channels to address the prevailing situation along the LAC.
“Commanders from PLA and Indian Army held a meeting at Chushul, on Indian side, for the fourth round of talks, on 14 July 2020,” the army said. The meeting took place between 14 Corps commander Lieutenant General Harinder Singh and South Xinjiang Military District chief Major General Liu Lin in Chushul.
The third meeting in June was on for almost 12 hours when India put across a strong message that the PLA have not abided by the disengagement consensus.
India and China have been locked in a 10-week-long standoff at multiple points, hitherto unprecedented along the border. They are now engaged in military and diplomatic deliberation to de-escalate the situation at the border areas.
The two sides recalled the agreement reached between the two foreign ministers on June 17, as well as the agreement between two Special Representatives during their telephonic conversation on July 5, and reaffirmed that both sides will ensure complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC and de-escalation from India-China border areas for full restoration of peace and tranquility in the border areas in accordance with bilateral agreements and protocols.
A total of 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese troops were killed on June 15 in their worst clash in four decades at another disputed border area — Galwan Valley. China attempted to change the status quo at the border at various places moving inside the Indian territories. India has objected to it and is taking up the matter with China at all levels.
