India and China have smoothly completed the 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 exchange took place during the 10th round of the China-India Corps Commander level meeting. The meeting was held on the Chinese side of the Moldo/Chushul border meeting point on Saturday, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. The Ministry said that the two sides had a “candid and in-depth” exchange of views on other issues along the LAC in the Western Sector.
The tenth round of corps commander level talks between India and China concluded after 16 hours at Moldo as the discussion focused on further disengagement at three friction points in eastern Ladakh, including Gogra heights, Hot Springs and Depsang plains, Army sources said.
This latest round of talks comes two days after completing the disengagement process from both the north and south banks of Pangong Lake.
“The two sides positively appraised the smooth completion of disengagement of frontline troops in the Pangong Lake area noting that it was a significant step forward that provided a good basis for resolution of other remaining issues along the LAC in Western Sector,” the statement read.
“They had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on other issues along the LAC in the Western Sector. The two sides agreed to follow the important consensus of their state leaders, continue their communication and dialogue, stabilize and control the situation on the ground, push for a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues in a steady and orderly manner, so as to jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas,” it added.
The two countries have had a standoff 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.
Meanwhile, asserting that the disengagement process by India and China in eastern Ladakh has been “completed”, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday hit out at Congress for “doubting” the bravery and valour of Indian soldiers.
Addressing Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) convention in Salem, Tamil Nadu, the Defence Minister said, “After nine rounds of dialogue at military and diplomatic levels, a part has been
resolved but Congress tries to malign our image, saying we ceded land. I want to assure you that no one can occupy an inch of India’s land till I am alive.”
“After nine rounds of military and diplomatic dialogue, the disengagement process is complete. But unfortunately, Congress is doubting the Indian Army’s bravery and courage. I want to ask if the Congress party is not insulting the soldiers who did the supreme sacrifice in Galwan valley,” he added.
Singh said that the country will not allow any “unilateral action” on its border and will pay any cost to thwart such attempts. “We have never compromised with India’s unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty and we will never do the same. We will never let India and Indians down their head,” he added.
Twenty Indian soldiers had laid their lives and unspecified numbers of Chinese soldiers were killed in the Galwan Valley in June last year. India and China are in a standoff in eastern Ladakh along the LAC, following aggressive border skirmishes by the Chinese PLA. WITH ANI INPUTS