The Indian Army on Thursday released a statement on the situation in Ladakh where the forces of India and China are in the process of disengaging from friction areas. Indian and Chinese forces have been engaged in standoffs in eastern Ladakh since May when the People's Liberation Army attempted to intrude across the Line of Actual Control. A clash at Galwan on June 15 that left 20 Indian soldiers dead and 76 injured triggered the worst bout of tension between India and China in decades.
Indian and Chinese commanders had met on Tuesday for a fourth round of talks at Chushul.
The statement said, "India and China have been engaged in discussions through established military and diplomatic channels to address the prevailing situation along the LAC."
The Army statement referred to the talks at Chushul, noting, "The engagement was consistent with the consensus reached between the special representatives of India and China earlier, on 05 July, to discuss complete disengagement. The senior commanders reviewed the progress on implementation of the first phase of disengagement and discussed further steps to ensure complete disengagement.”
"The two sides remain committed to the objective of complete disengagement. This process is intricate and requires constant verification. They are taking it forward through regular meetings at diplomatic and military level," the Indian Army said.
The Indian Army had indicated on July 6 that China had begun pulling back forces in Galwan river and Gogra-Hot Springs areas in eastern Ladakh. At that time, the Army had cautioned it would need to verify each claim of disengagement.
