New Delhi: More than 22 months after China launched military aggression against India in the Eastern Ladakh sector, top military commanders will meet for the 15th round of talks on March 11 to look at ways for disengagement in the friction areas like Depsang, Hot Springs and Demchok along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)
The 14 rounds of Corps Commander-level talks till now have resulted in disengagement in North & South Bank of Pangong Tso (Lake), Galwan and Gogra areas.
The upcoming round of talks will be held at the Indian side of Chushul Moldo Meeting Point along the LAC, sources in the Indian Defence Establishment said today.
“Both sides will now focus to achieve resolution of balance friction areas,” a source said.
“Recent statements by both sides to find a mutually-acceptable solution have been encouraging and positive in nature,” the source said.
The last round of Corps Commander-level talks was held on January 12 on the Chinese side of the Chusul-Moldo border Meeting point but there was no outcome with regard to disengagement in the remaining friction areas.
After the last meeting, the two sides had issued a Joint Statement, saying they would consolidate earlier outcomes and “work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest”.
It had said the two sides would “stay in close contact and maintain dialogue via military and diplomatic channels” and make “effective efforts to maintain the security and stability on the ground in the Western Sector including during winter”.
The Joint Statement also mentioned that the two sides agreed that they “should follow the guidance provided by the State Leaders and work for the resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest. It was noted that this would help in restoration of peace and tranquility along the LAC in the Western Sector and enable progress in bilateral relations.”
The LAC has been witnessing eyeball-to-eyeball situation ever since China launched military aggression against India in May 2020 with an aim of altering the boundary unilaterally through force.
Both the countries have deployed tens of thousands of troops besides heavy military assets in the mountainous region.
