India said on Thursday that the immediate task of its diplomatic and military engagements with China is to ensure a “comprehensive withdrawal of troops” in all areas of friction in the Ladakh sector of the Royal Line of Control (LAC).
The withdrawal and de-escalation process has not progressed despite several meetings of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border issues and the top military commanders of the two parties. The commanders are expected to meet for the eighth round of talks next week.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava told a weekly press conference that India and China were continuing their discussions through diplomatic and military channels to peacefully resolve issues throughout LAC. This was in line with the agreement reached by Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during a meeting in Moscow on September 10.
“The immediate task is to ensure a complete withdrawal of troops in all areas of friction,” he said.
The last meeting of the WMCC was held virtually on September 30, and was followed by the seventh meeting of the military high command at Chushul in LAC on October 12.
“The two sides have reiterated their desire to maintain dialogue and communication through military and diplomatic channels, and to reach a mutually acceptable solution for disengagement as soon as possible,” said Srivastava.
The military confrontation in Ladakh has entered its sixth month and tens of thousands of troops mobilized by both sides are preparing for the harsh winter.
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