Without de-escalation, troops maintain positions in freezing conditions in LAC | India News


NEW DELHI: There is still no indication on the ground that China is willing to adhere to the proposed withdrawal and de-escalation roadmap in eastern Ladakh, with rival troops continuing to hold their positions entrenched in freezing temperatures and lack of oxygen in the high-altitude region.
But the resumption of formal diplomatic and military talks after a hiatus is seen as “a breakthrough” to finally defuse the confrontation, which erupted after Chinese troops stormed into Indian territory at multiple points in a well-coordinated fashion in early May. .
For India, restoring the status quo as it existed in April is still the bottom line. “The challenges at our borders (north and west) at this time also present a challenge to our resources. But I can assure you on behalf of our government that lack of resources will never get in the way of our success at the border. The prime minister has said that and I can say it with confidence, ”said the defense minister. Rajnath singh on Friday.
The ninth round of corps commander-level talks between India and China will take place “in a week or so” after the two sides held diplomatic talks on Friday, officials said.
The eighth military round on November 6 had raised hopes of a de-escalation, as India and China generally agreed to a mutual pullback of troops, tanks and howitzers from “sticking points” in the Pangong Tso-Chushul area. But the exact modalities and sequence of steps, along with a joint verification mechanism, have not been finalized since, as TOI previously reported.
There is also concern about the way the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has continued to improve its infrastructure and military positions in “deep areas” along the 3,488 km Royal Line of Control, which runs from Ladakh to Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. .
In eastern Ladakh, where around 50,000 soldiers remain entrenched from both sides, it is now “a question of basic survival.” The harsh winter is taking a toll, forcing the two armies to regularly rotate troops and even to “reduce forces in a few unmanageable areas.”
“Temperatures have dropped to almost minus 30 degrees Celsius on some of the hilltops, greatly reducing the operational efficiency of the soldiers. Both sides fight cold injuries, pulmonary edema, hypothermia, hypoxia and things like that, ”said a senior official.
As TOI previously reported, China wants the proposed withdrawal to start from the southern shore of the Pangong Tso-Chushul area, where Indian troops are in tactically advantageous positions on the ridge line stretching from Thakung to Gurung Hill, Spanggur. Gap, Magar Hill, Mukhpari, Rezang La and Reqin La (Rechin mountain pass) from August 29 to 30.
India, in turn, wants it to start from the north shore of Pangong Tso, where the PLA has occupied the 8km stretch from ‘Finger 4 to 8’ (mountain spurs) since early May.

.