Updated: November 12, 2020 6:58:36 am
A view of the Pangong Tso lake in the Ladakh region (Reuters / Archive)
Six months after PLA troops reached 8 km west of the point that India claims marks the Royal Line of Control on the north bank of Pangong Tso to trigger a military confrontation in Ladakh, China proposed to move its troops from return to Finger 8 and return troops from both sides to their original locations on the south shore of the lake.
The proposal also includes moving tanks and artillery to deep areas on both sides to reduce the chances of any incidents in a region where tensions are already high and troops are fighting the harsh Ladakh winter.
While there is no agreement on this proposal, official sources said that India is considering the Chinese offer and that the modalities for other areas of friction are still under discussion.
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The proposal includes creating a temporary no-patrol zone between Finger 4 and Finger 8, the official said, “to avoid any friction.”
India’s insistence on the status quo ante, that troops return to their April locations, and China’s reluctance to withdraw, especially on the north bank of Pangong, has caused the two sides to deploy thousands of troops, tanks, artillery and air assets in the region.
The sources said the Chinese proposed disengagement when Lieutenant General PGK Menon, commander of the Leh-based XIV Corps, and Major General Liu Lin, commander of the Xinjiang Southern Military Region, held individual discussions during the eighth level of Corps commander. talks in chushul on November 6.
In the previous seven rounds, entire delegations held talks. But on November 6, the commanders also held one-on-one talks, the sources said, stressing that there is still no agreement on the Chinese proposal and the commanders. they are likely to meet again soon.
“There was a proposal” from China, said a senior official from the security establishment, “that it is ready to return to Finger 8” on the north shore of Pangong Tso. The proposal, the official said, also mentioned that Indian troops would be at Dhan Singh Thapa Post, west of Finger 3.
The proposal includes creating a temporary no-patrol zone between Finger 4 and Finger 8, the official said, “to avoid any friction.”
Troops on the southern shore of Pangong Tso are also supposed to return to their original positions, according to the proposal.
“Everything is in the gray zone. No one has formally committed. All details matters are currently under deliberation, “said the official, adding that” the modalities, the deadlines, the distances “are being discussed between the two parties.
“How will it be done, when nothing is agreed upon” from now on, the official said.
Noting the “confidence deficit,” the official said, “everything will be based on verification.” Although the proposal is being considered at the highest level, India will remain cautious, the official said. The “confidence deficit” widened after clashes in the Galwan Valley on June 15 in which 20 members of the Indian army were killed and the Chinese also suffered an unknown number of casualties.
According to India, the LAC passes through finger 8 on the north shore of Pangong Tso. In May, Chinese troops reached 8 km to the west, up to Finger 4.
After an initial round of disengagement in early July, the Chinese fell back from the base of finger 4 to finger 5, and Indian troops moved to finger 3. But the Chinese refused to leave the ridge of finger 4 and have been there ever since. .
In late August, Indian troops surprised the Chinese by occupying the dominant heights on the southern bank of Pangong Tso and in the larger subsector of Chushul.
Indian troops positioned themselves at Gurung Hill, Magar Hill, Mukhpari, Rechin La, and Rezang La. They now have a direct view of China’s Moldo garrison and the strategic Spanggur Gap, which can be used to launch offensives, as the Chinese did in 1962.
Indian troops also readjusted their positions on the north shore of the lake, occupying elements to dominate the Chinese positions on the ridge line connecting finger 3 and finger 4. This fight for the heights caused both sides to fire warning shots.
© The Indian Express (P) Ltd
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