Marathon military talks on Ladakh standoff

New Delhi, January 24

After a gap of over two months, India and China on Sunday held the ninth round of military talks specifically focusing on ways to move forward on the long-negotiated disengagement process in eastern Ladakh as thousands of their troops remained deployed at friction points under freezing conditions.

The Corps Commander-level meeting began around 10 am at Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh and was continuing late till night, sources said.

People familiar with the negotiations said India insisted that the onus was on China to carry forward the process of disengagement and de-escalation at the friction points. India has been maintaining that the disengagement process has to start simultaneously at all friction points and a selective approach was not acceptable to it.

Close to 1 lakh Indian and Chinese troops are deployed in eastern Ladakh as both sides have been holding on to their ground and showing readiness for a long haul amid continuing diplomatic and military talks to find an amicable solution.

Sunday’s talks took place nearly two weeks after India handed back to China a soldier of the People’s Liberation Army after apprehending him on the southern bank of the Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh. It is learnt that India’s gesture generated a positive atmosphere. The Indian delegation was led by Leh-based 14 Corps Commander Lt Gen PGK Menon. — PTI

Pullback Onus on Beijing: India

• The ninth round of talks were aimed at initiating steps to disengage troops from all friction points in eastern Ladakh
• The eighth round of talks on November 6 , 2020, had broadly discussed disengagement from specific friction points
• Close to 1 lakh Indian and Chinese troops are deployed in eastern Ladakh