India and China are gearing up to hold another military and diplomatic level meeting to discuss the ways to resolve the current standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh. The 8th round of talks will most probably be held next week to try and end the deadlock on the de facto border between India and China, sources told The Daily Guardian.
“Military and diplomatic officials of India and China will hold another round of discussion (8th round) on various important issues in another attempt to hammer out mutually acceptable solutions to the standoff,” an official told TDG.
Sources said that India wants immediate reduction in the number of armoured vehicles and tanks currently deployed by China’s PLA along LAC. Secondly, India is insisting on immediate withdrawal of 50,000 PLA soldiers presently placed along the LAC. These three key issues are to be there in the agenda when the two sides sit together for 8th round of discussion next week, say sources.
“When China, on many occasions in the past, has expressed its willingness to de-escalate, why does it not come up with a concrete plan on that? What is stoping Beijing from doing that?” “The Chinese delegation has to give answer to these questions,” says an official.
Sources said that the political leadership of both India and China have decided to keep the dialogue channel open. “The communication channel at military commander and diplomatic levels should remain open,” an official said.
According to sources, PLA has also proposed that both sides withdraw armoured and artillery units first which should be followed by disengagement of infantry. Indian officials have made it clear that “armoured units cannot be withdrawn because it may give advantage to the adversary due to terrain and capability.” This is one of the points of proposal which will come up for discussion in the next round of talks, sources said.
India continues to insist on disengagement by PLA troops on all points of friction. “India’s demand for the status quo ante of April continues to be unchanged, and Indian officials will not relent on it no matter what,” an official said. A diplomat from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will also be there in the Indian delegation.