NEW DELHI: An agreement has been reached with China on withdrawal on the northern and southern banks of Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh, with the identification of strategically important points and the positioning of Indian troops on top of the hills, giving India the upper hand, Defense Minister Rajnath singh he said Thursday.
In a statement in the Rajya sabha Detailing the disengagement that began Wednesday after an intense military standoff that began last May, Singh said a deal was reached after a well-thought-out approach and sustained talks with the Chinese side. “It has also been agreed that the next meeting of senior commanders will be convened within 48 hours after the complete disconnection in the Pangong lake area to address and solve all other remaining problems, ”he said.
The advance, sources said, was significant as Indian troops would currently remain in the heights that dominate the southern shore until a decline is verified. The daring maneuver on the night of August 29-30 by Indian troops gave India control of the heights on the southern bank, including Rezang La and Rezin La, effectively neutralizing Chinese advances in the Finger area (spurs ) from the north shore.
“Many strategically important points were identified and our troops were positioned on those peaks and in places that were very important from our point of view. It is due to this great courage of our armed forces in the face of harsh and adverse weather conditions that we have maintained the advantage. “said the minister.
“The Chinese side will maintain its troop presence in the north bank area east of Finger 8. Reciprocally, Indian troops will be based on their permanent base at Dhan Singh Thapa post near Finger 3. Similar action would be taken. in the south shore area on both sides, “Singh said. Of all the sticking points, the Finger area was considered the most difficult to resolve, as the Chinese moved considerable troops, equipment, and infrastructure to the area.
It has been decided that as a temporary measure, pending resolution at the diplomatic level, there will be no patrol in the Finger area. Before the Chinese action, Indian troops patrolled up to Finger 8. However, the concentration of Chinese troops was intended to permanently alter the LACQUER and this has been reversed according to the agreement that forces them to retire to their original positions.
The next round of military talks will aim to stabilize the situation in the Pangong area and discuss the restoration of the status quo at other sticking points throughout LAC, where heavily armed Chinese and Indian troops are in close proximity.
“I want to assure this House that in these talks we have not conceded anything. The House should also know that there are still some outstanding issues regarding the deployment and patrolling at some other points throughout LAC in eastern Ladakh. These will be taken up again. in further discussions with the Chinese side, although the focus will be to ensure that the current disengagement is successfully concluded, ”Singh said.
The agreement will see Indian and Chinese troops cease their advanced deployments in a staggered, coordinated and verified manner. As a first step, the tanks and armored vehicles have been withdrawn. Singh said the de-escalation, which comes nearly 10 months since the neighbor amassed troops and weapons, will see the presence of Chinese troops on the restricted north shore east of Finger 8.
Sources said the winter deployment was difficult for both sides, but Indian troops were better able to handle the rigors given their operating experience in theaters such as Siachen. The Chinese side also did not anticipate a protracted mobilization or economic actions by India, all of which underscored that there could be no business as usual if the border was disturbed. It was noted that the minister and the government were guided by the professional advice of the forces and assured them of their full support.
Singh added that according to the agreement reached with the Chinese side, any structures built by both parties since April 2020 in the north and south bank areas will be removed and the landforms restored. A temporary moratorium on both sides’ military activities on the north bank was also agreed, including the suspension of patrols in traditional areas.
“Our approach and strategy for negotiations with the Chinese side has been guided at the highest level by the prime minister’s determination not to give up an inch of Indian territory. Our tenacity and focus during the talks have paid off, ”Singh told Rajya Sabha.
According to Singh, the Indian approach to engagement with China upheld three key principles: that both parties must strictly respect and observe FTA, neither party should attempt to unilaterally alter the status quo, and all agreements and understandings between the two parties must be adhered to. fully. by in its entirety.
Recapping the situation on the ground, Singh said that China had illegally occupied approximately 38,000 square kilometers in Ladakh, mainly during the 1962 conflict. Additionally, under the 1963 “boundary agreement” between China and Pakistan, Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180 kilometers squares of Indian territory in Pakistani-occupied Kashmir to China.
On Video: India, China Agreed Complete Disconnection Be Done ASAP – Rajnath Singh
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