NEW DELHI: There was no concrete progress in the marathon India-China military talks in reducing the remaining ‘sticking points’ in Gogra, Thermal waters, Demchok Y Depsang Plains in eastern Ladakh, but the two reiterated their commitment to working for a mutually acceptable resolution through further dialogue.
“The two sides will push for a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues in a constant and orderly manner, in order to jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas,” said a joint statement issued after the 10th round of level talks. corps commander. It started at 10am on Saturday and ended at 2am on Sunday.
He said the two sides “agreed to follow the important consensus of their state leaders, continue their communication and dialogue, and stabilize and control the situation on the ground.” Sources said the two sides agreed to go ahead with the stalled disengagement process at Patrol Points (PP) 15 and 17A in Hot Springs-Gogra, but the issue of the deployment of rival troops near the area proved to be an obstacle. “No specific agreement could be reached … some more talks are required,” said a source.
The “older” friction problems at the Charding Ninglung Nallah (CNN) runway junction in the strategically located Demchok sector and the Depsang Plains were even more intractable, the sources said. India, during the meeting, strongly opposed blocking its military patrols from going to their traditional PP 10, 11, 11A, 12 and 13 in the Depsang area, which are well below India’s perception of the Real control line (LAC) in the region. “The Depsang problem, which has been a continuous source of friction since 2013, was not directly part of the multiple clashes that broke out in eastern Ladakh last May. But it is also on the table for discussion now, especially as it could lead to a major escalation in the future, “said a source.
The PLA can now intercept Indian patrols much more quickly in the ‘Bottleneck’ area, which lies 18 km within what India perceives as its territory, after it built motorized roads in the area after 2013. “One way out could be for both sides to accept the patrol rights of each other in Depsang until LAC can be clarified in the future,” he added.
The two delegations, led by the commander of the 14th Corps, Lieutenant General PGK Menon and the head of the Xinjiang Southern Military District, Major General Liu Lin, have taken the proposals exchanged during the “sincere and deep” meeting to their respective political hierarchies for further consultation.
The joint statement said the two sides “appreciated the smooth completion of the disengagement” on both sides of the Pangong Tso, noting that it was “a significant step forward that provided a good basis for the resolution of other outstanding issues along the way. throughout LAC in the west sector “.
The sources said the ongoing military talks “are not connected” to LAC’s “clarification” process and the general boundary resolution. “China has been slowing down on the proposed clarification of the 3,488 km of LAC, which will help prevent clashes. The clarification process has to be handled diplomatically, ”said the source.
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