NEW DELHI: No expectations of concrete breakthrough in actual troop de-escalation in the east Ladakh During the seventh round of high-level military talks with China on Monday, he is also likely to see diplomatic representation from Beijing for the first time.
The possible presence of a senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Chinese delegation, in addition to the usual political commissar, will come after India included a senior diplomat, Assistant Secretary (East Asia). Naveen Srivastava, during the sixth round of talks on September 21.
India made the decision after perceiving a “disconnect” between the five-point diplomatic consensus reached during the September 10 talks between Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and his counterpart. Wang Yi and the “real actions and behaviors” of the People’s Liberation Army (EPL) on the ground.
India will be represented by Lieutenant Generals Harinder Singh and PGK Menon (who will replace the former as 14th Corps commander on October 14), as well as Srivastava, among others, in the seventh round of talks to be held on India. . next to the Chushul-Moldo border staff meeting point.
“There is unlikely to be a breakthrough unless the PLA agrees to begin withdrawing first from the ‘Finger’ area on the north shore of Pangong Tso, and follow it with a full de-escalation along the entire border in east of Ladakh. India will then reciprocate, ”an official said Sunday.
In fact, there is a dominant opinion in the security system that Indian troops should not abandon the multiple heights they preemptively occupied on the ridge line that runs from Thakung in the South bank from Pangong Tso to Gurung Hill, Spanggur Gap, Magar Hill, Mukhpari, Rezang La and Reqin La (Rechin Mountain Pass) from Aug 29-30.
“These heights in the Chushul region are militarily much more significant than the northern shore of Pangong Tso. They provide our troops with a clear view of the PLA Moldo military garrison, posts and roads in the region, ”the official said.
The PLA, for its part, insists that Indian troops must first vacate the Chushul Heights. However, India will demand a “complete reduction” in troop engagement sites, as well as along the entire border in eastern Ladakh during the talks, as TOI previously reported.
On video: LAC row: Chinese ministry official to attend military talks today
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