India, China discuss 'remaining issues' of disengagement along LAC
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New Delhi, April 12: A day after India and China concluded their 11th round of talks at the Corps Commander-level, India said that "the two sides had a detailed exchange of views for the resolution of the remaining issues related to disengagement along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh".
The “remaining issues” meant the continuing standoff at the friction points in Hot Springs, Gogra Post and Depsang Plains as both the sides had disengaged on the north and south banks of Pangong Tso in February.
The meeting, which was held at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on Friday, witnessed "the need to resolve the outstanding issues in an expeditious manner in accordance with the existing agreements and protocols."
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India also highlighted that completion of disengagement in other areas would pave the way for two sides to consider de-escalation of forces and ensure full restoration of peace and tranquility and enable progress in bilateral relations.
The two sides agreed that it was important to take guidance from the consensus of their leaders, continue their communication and dialogue and work towards a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest. They also agreed to jointly maintain stability on the ground, avoid any new incidents and jointly maintain peace in the border areas.
The meeting, which started around 10.30 am Friday on the Indian side of the Chushul-Moldo Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) point, went on for nearly 12 hours. The military commanders, it is learnt, discussed the friction areas at the patrolling points in Hot Springs, Gogra Post and Depsang Plains.
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The Indian delegation at the talks was led by XIV Corps Commander Lt Gen PGK Menon. Naveen Srivastava, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, who has been leading the Indian side at the meetings of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was also present. Major General Liu Lin, Commander of South Xinjiang Military District, led the Chinese team at the talks.
In February, Indian and Chinese troops disengaged on the north and south banks of Pangong Tso, and military sources said status quo ante had been achieved there – the standoff began in the first week of May last year.