India wants China to pull back 10K troops

Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 10

India’s assessment is that the threat from China’s military posturing along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh stems from the fighter jets, long-range bombers, air defence radars and jammers it has amassed close to the LAC.

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The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops on the frontline along the LAC account for no more than 10 per cent of the actual buildup, estimated at 10,000, besides the support staff. India and China now have ‘mirrored’ deployments along the 826-km LAC in Ladakh.

At Major General-level talks today, it was decided to hold meetings of local commanders on ground zero over the next 10 days at three locations — Galwan valley, Gogra at Hot Springs and ‘Finger 4’ of Pangong Tso.

At these meetings, patrol limits that existed till April will be sought to be restored. The issue at ‘Finger 4’ will involve separate meeting of senior officials as the PLA is preventing Indian patrol teams from going east of ‘Finger 4’. India wants China to de-induct its 10,000 troops and pull back its heavy weapons deployed along the LAC.

Meanwhile, China today said the meetings between troop commanders would ease tensions. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said both sides had agreed through diplomatic and military channels on properly handling the situation in the west section of the China-India boundary.