Updated: September 17, 2020 7:20:52 pm
Military tankers carrying fuel move to advanced areas in Ladakh region (Reuters)
Ahead of another round of Corps Commander-level talks between India and China to resolve the crisis along the Royal Line of Control in Ladakh, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. consensus had been reached in recent ministerial talks that there should be “a rapid and complete withdrawal of the troops.”
Consistent with the consensus reached, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that India hoped that the Chinese side would make no further attempts to “unilaterally” change the status quo on the Line of Royal Control (LAC).
“There was consensus among the ministers of the two parties, during both meetings, that there should be a rapid and complete withdrawal of troops from all areas of friction throughout LAC. The Chinese side should sincerely work with the Indian side to achieve complete disengagement as soon as possible from all areas of friction, including Pangong Lake, ”MEA spokesman Anurag Srivastava said at the weekly briefing.
Last week, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, S Jaishankar, and the State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, Wang Yi had agreed on a five point approach to resolve the border confrontation of more than three months. The ministers agreed that their troops “must continue their dialogue, disconnect quickly, maintain the appropriate distance and ease tensions.”
The statement’s emphasis on “quick” disconnection and “keeping your distance” reflects the urgency of the situation in Ladakh, especially on the northern and southern banks of Pangong Tso, where troops are within firing range from each other.
In the Lok Sabha, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh also echoed the importance of the Moscow agreement between Jaishankar and Wang Yi, saying that “if (the pact) is implemented with sincerity and fidelity by the Chinese side, it could lead to the total disconnection and restoration of peace and tranquility in the border areas” .
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The MEA further said that both sides should focus on easing tensions in the friction areas by refraining from actions that could aggravate the situation. “This requires strict adherence to bilateral agreements and protocols and not making unilateral attempts to change the status quo,” Srivastava said.
While China withdrew its troops from Patrol Point-14 in Galwan to its LAC side during the withdrawal in early July, a small number of Chinese troops remain on the Indian side of LAC on PP-15 in the area called Hot Springs. . and PP-17A at the nearby Gogra Post. On the north shore of Pangong Tso, Chinese troops never left the Finger 4 ridge line and are within 500 meters of Indian troops where the ridge meets Finger 3.
Tensions rose after they soared across LAC for the first time in 45 years Indian troops overtook China to capture key heights on the stretch from the south bank to Rechin La near Rezang La on the middle night of August 29-30.
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