NEW DELHI: Once concluded, the disconnection in Pangong Tso will work well for India as it means a vacation from the thorniest part of the Chinese intrusions along the Royal Line of Control that defied resolution during the long military standoff since May from last year.
Top government sources said concerns that India was giving up on tactical height control gains throughout the South bank of the lake were out of place as the Chinese were now removing the considerable infrastructure, including a helipad, that they had installed in the ‘Finger’ area.
The Indian positions on the strategic heights of the southern bank had nullified the Chinese positions and were a key factor in the PLA’s agreement to withdraw from the area.
In the past, the Chinese side had asked Indian forces to reduce their presence before reciprocating, while now the disengagement is gradual and mutual.
The Indian presence in the heights is clearly a change in the status quo that should be reduced as part of any agreed withdrawal. It was making sure that PLA troops are well east of Finger 8, sources said. The decision not to have patrols in the Finger areas under discussion was incorrectly interpreted as a transfer of indigenous rights, the sources said.
The measure was temporary and it was important to note that the military and Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials would enter into a future agreement to their satisfaction. It was noted that while the Indian patrols ran up to finger 8, this had become more contentious with clashes with Chinese troops since the Kargil war when the PLA, taking advantage of India’s concern over Pakistani aggression, strengthened its positions building a vehicle for vehicles. road.
The next round of military talks will see a discussion about Patrol Point 17 and the Gogra-Hot Springs areas where the number of troops involved is lower and where Indian soldiers have taken positions that will be seen as “intrusions” by the Chinese.
A broader discussion awaits on the Depsang Plains, where Indian patrols are being obstructed. The argument that no relaxation should have been allowed in Pangong without Depsang being resolved did not see the importance of the PLA leaving the Finger area.
.
