Part of CBM for adjustments during winters
Corps Comdr level dialogue to take time
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 13: Notwithstanding no significant breakthrough during 20th round of military talks between India and China last month, the two sides have been regularly holding talks at local levels during past few days to ensure that problems don’t crop up during readjustments along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh ahead of harsh winter season of over three months.
As per the officials, the talks were part of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) which were agreed upon during last month’s Corps Commander level talks at Chushul Moldo in Eastern Ladakh on October 9 and 10.
“Though no headway could be achieved on further disengagement during talks, it was decided that both sides will continue dialogue and take CBMs,’’ they said, adding recent talks at local level between India and China were part of the CBMs agreed upon between the two sides.
The talks which are going on for last nearly a week may continue for few more days depending upon the requirements, the officials said.
Describing regular talks at local level as good sign between the two sides, they said it will help normalise relations and maintain peace to the best possible extent especially at a time when harsh winter is about to set-in along the LAC and will continue till March.
According to the officials, the local level talks are, however, confined to sorting out minor issues arising out of adjustments for the winters to ensure that no major problem crops up. However, the Corps Commander level talks are now expected to take place after some time, may be after the harsh winters as two rounds of talks were held on August 13 and 14 followed by October 9 and 10.
During the 20th round of military talks on October 9 and 10, there was no significant progress on the ground. However, both parties agreed to sustain dialogue and negotiations through various military and diplomatic channels, while committing to uphold peace and tranquility.
India has been advocating for access to its old patrolling points along the LAC and early disengagement at remaining friction points, including legacy areas like Depsang Plains and Demchok.
Talks also encompass an overall de-escalation of troops in Eastern Ladakh.
In September 2022, both sides withdrew troops from Patrolling Point-15 in the Gogra-Hot Springs area, marking a substantial move in the standoff that commenced in May 2020.
It must be noted that both sides had deployed 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the de facto border between India and Tibet, after the military standoff began.
Over the last three years, some resolution has been achieved in friction points like Galwan Valley, north and south banks of Pangong Tso, and the Gogra-Hot Springs area.
But there are still some active friction points, including Depsang Plains and Demchok.
However, following Galwan clash between the two sides on June 15, 2020, no major clash has taken place between Indian troops and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China though minor issues do crop up due to eyeball-to-eyeball positions at many points but they are resolved during the talks.
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