Ajay banerjee
Tribune news service
New Delhi, October 11
When Indian and Chinese military commanders meet tomorrow to resolve the five-month standoff along the Royal Line of Control, it is clear that New Delhi’s dominance over a 70 km stretch along LAC is the key to the negotiations.
Since August 30, the Indian Army has dominated a 70 km front, starting from Thakung at the southern tip of Pangong Tso and ending at the crucial Renchin La. This means that the Indian troops sitting atop Rezang La and Renchin La, both engaged in military action on August 29-30, can get an aerial view of the Moldo garrison of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). .
The commanders will meet today in Chushul
- The seventh meeting of commanders at the level of Lieutenant General from June 6 will aim to resolve the LAC confrontation
- It will start at 9.30am in Chushul on the Indian side of LAC
- Representatives of both foreign ministries will attend
- The last meeting on September 21 agreed that both parties will not unilaterally alter LAC or bring in more troops.
Additionally, the access roads to the garrison, Spanggur Tso and Spanggur Gap are now within visual range of the Indian troops from the heights they have taken. The Spanggur Gap is one of 13 natural gaps in the eastern Ladakh mountains, and securing the gaps is vital to counter China’s military push. India fears vacating the heights along the 70km front could be strategically risky unless the Chinese agree to demarcate LAC on the ground. These positions are within LAC’s Indian claim line. “If we vacate now, the PLA can try to capture them. The ascent from his side is easier, ”said an official with knowledge of things. Both Rezang La and Renchin La are at an elevation of more than 16,000 feet.
In recent meetings, India has been pushing for the status quo to be restored before April. The current situation is such that the southern shore of Pangong Tso has a higher value.
Leading sources have confirmed that the China Study Group headed by the National Security Adviser has made it clear that the negotiations have to be for the whole of eastern Ladakh and not piecemeal.
