Expect China to work through existing bilateral consultation mechanisms: India

New Delhi, Mar 6: India on Friday said it expects China to work with it through existing bilateral consultation mechanisms between their diplomats and military commanders. This comes after as India wants to ensure early completion of the disengagement process in the remaining areas in eastern Ladakh to allow both sides to consider de-escalation of forces.

  

 

This statement was made days after the armies of the two countries concluded withdrawal of troops and weapons from the north and south banks of the Pangong lake.

 

At a weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had a detailed discussion with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi last week and agreed to set up a hotline, details of which would be worked out through diplomatic channels.

 

“…It is our expectation that the Chinese side will work with us both through the WMCC (Working Mechanism for Consultation and Cooperation on India-China border issues) and the senior commanders’ meetings to ensure that disengagement in the remaining areas is completed at the earliest,” Srivastava said.

 

“This would allow both sides to consider de-escalation of forces in eastern Ladakh as that alone will lead to the restoration of peace and tranquility and provide conditions for the progress in our bilateral relationship,” he added.

 

India and China "positively appraised" the smooth completion of disengagement of frontline troops in the Pangong Lake area and agreed to continue their communication and push for a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector.

 

The two countries have had a stand-off along the LAC since April-May last year due to actions of the Chinese army and have held several rounds of military and diplomatic talks.