Two days after meeting of military commanders of the Indian Army and Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), both sides have agreed to have limited disengagement along the LAC where stand-offs between Indian and Chinese troops have been on for over a month, a top government official claimed.
On June 6, the Indian delegation, led by Leh-based XIV Corps Commander Lt General Harinder Singh, met the Chinese side which was led by Maj Gen Lin Liu, Xinjiang military district chief, for two hours.
Main point of discussion was withdrawal from four locations in eastern Ladakh. Official sources claim that deinduction of forces form Finger 4 and patrolling points 14 to 17, along with gradual deescalation in depth areas were the key points of discussion.
Official sources claimed that both sides have mutually identified five locations of conflict— patrolling points 14, 15 and 17, north bank of Pangong Tso and Chushul.
As Chinese troops have started disengaging at three locations in eastern Ladakh and starting moving back troops by 2-2.5km, the Indian side also decided to withdraw their troops. However, complete deinduction will take a minimum of 10 days.
"Both sides have agreed to withdraw partial concentration of forces on both sides and deescalation of build up happened in depth area. An Indian Army's major general level officer will discuss on each of these stand-off points with his PLA counterpart in the coming days," said an officer.
The major general level talk, during which further steps will be discussed, is scheduled for Wednesday.
However, the stand-off at Finger 4 area on Pangong Tso, a contentious issue, will be taken up at the lieutenant general level talk, date of which is yet to be decided.
During the meeting on Saturday, Indian side told Chinese military that the latter initiated the build-up along the LAC by bringing artillery and armoured vehicles along with heavy presence of infantry troops, and asked the PLA to take the first step of withdrawal.
Official sources claimed that Indian side insisted the Chinese must withdraw from pre-May 8 situation on Finger 4 on Pangong Tso. After the build up by Chinese and Indian troops in the area, on May 8, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval dialed to his Chinese counterpart, Special Representatives Wang Yi. They spoke at length and agreed to direct their respective commanders to control the tempreture along the border.
Saturday's meeting was the highest level of military engagement between the two sides and was "unprecedented", as lieutenant general-ranked officer from the Indian Army (three star general officer who commands a Corps, Indian Army's Field Formation) had led such border dispute talks from the Indian side with the Chinese counterpart.
For over a month, Indian and Chinese forces are at a stand-off and over 5,000 Chinese PLA troops are camped in a few locations in Galwan valley region, northern bank of Pangong lake and Demchok.
According to official sources, PLA troops made advancements into certain Indian occupied territories in the Galwan valley and Pangang Tso Lake region in Ladakh and significantly built up its military presence by a massive deployment of infantry soldiers, artillery guns and logistic support along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh sector.
Multiple sources have confirmed that Chinese have intruded well inside of Indian side of Line of Actual control. Indian side is doing the mirror mobilisation of forces—similar number of artillery, armoured and infantry troops—close to the stand-off sites.
Earlier, eight rounds of local military level talks had taken place, including two major general level talks, to defuse the tension.
Chinese troops have pitched tents on India side of LAC on Galwan river and Demchok areas. It is believed that Chinese troops had objected to road construction activities in the Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) and Galwan Nala (river) area. Alignment of the 25km Darbuk-Daulat Beg Oldi, which improves Indian military's connectivity with DBO and allows movement of men and material, has caused serious trouble to Chinese military.
There are about 23 “disputed and sensitive areas” on the Line of Actual Control, stretching from Arunachal Pradesh to Ladakh region. The other sensitive areas in Ladakh include Trig Heights, Dumchele, Chumar, Spanggur Gap and Pangong Tso, besides Namkha Chu, Sumdorong Chu, Asaphila, Dichu, Yangtse, Fish Tail-I & II in Dibang Valley in Arunachal. Barahoti, Kaurik & Shipki La in middle sector.
Some analyst believe that the aggression of PLA troops can been seen as Beijing's strategic warning to India. Chinese government, apparently, did not like Indian government's new rule that notified blocked Chinese companies from acquiring Indian firms without government approval. Moreover, China also did not like United State's growing influence in India.
