New Delhi (NVI): India and China are holding the ninth round of Corps Commander level talks today at Moldo, on the Chinese side of Line of Actual Control (LAC), to discuss disengagement of troops in friction areas and de-escalate the situation in Eastern Ladakh.
The focus of the talks, which began at 9:30 am today, will be on reducing tensions that have been simmering for months now following intense clashes between Indian and Chinese troops, besides incursions by Chinese PLA into Indian territory.
Lt General PGK Menon, commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps that oversees the Ladakh sector, will lead the Indian delegation to talks today. A representative from the Ministry of External Affairs is also part of today’s military talks, like the previous few meetings.
India and China are engaged in a bitter stand-off for over eight months now and multiple rounds of diplomatic and military level talks have failed to break the deadlock or produce any major breakthrough.
According to a recent report, China has moved back around 10,000 troops from positions near Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh, where the Chinese and Indian armies have confronted each other since April-May last year.
Although these reports have claimed the movement of 10,000 Chinese troops, the deployment of troops in frontline areas has remained the same.
Notably, the Chinese traditional areas cover a huge area, around 150 kilometers and beyond the Indian side of LAC. China has deployed a huge number of troops along with heavy weaponry in these areas since April-May last year.
China had deployed around 50,000 troops near the Indian side of LAC in Eastern Ladakh, in aggressive posturing. The Indian Army had also done mirror deployment of troops in the area to counter any misadventure by the Chinese.
Since April-May last year, the Chinese troops started transgressing into Indian territory in the garb of training exercises and provoked Indian troops multiple times. This also led to a number of clashes between both sides including the deadly Galwan Valley face-off in Eastern Ladakh.
However, the Indian Army has been able to push the Chinese troops back in key strategic areas and keeping a track of PLA’s movement in extreme weather conditions. The Indian Army has kept a vigil at the northern and southern banks of Pangong Tso lake.
-ARK
