New Delhi, Sep 21 (UNI) India on Monday categorically asked the China for complete disengagement and de-escalation from all
friction points in eastern Ladakh, including Depsang and Pangong Tso, during the sixth round of meeting of top Generals at Moldo
on the Chinese side.
The meeting was on when last reports came in, according to sources.
For the first time an official of the External Affairs Ministry participated in the meeting. Joint Secretary (East Asia) in MEA Naveen
Srivastava was part of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC).
The Indian side asked China for complete withdrawal of troops and Defence equipment from all the areas wherever they have come
in, sources said.
From Indian Army side, two Lt Generals, including 14 Corps Commander Lt Gen Harinder Singh and Lt Gen PJK Menon from Army
HQ attended the meeting. Lt Gen Menon will take charge of Leh-based 14 Corps Command next month.
Besides, two major generals were also present during the meeting.
From ITBP, an IG-rank officer was also present. The soldiers of ITBP patrol along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with the troops of
Indian Army.
At least five such corps commander-level meetings between the Indian and Chinese armies has taken place on June 6, 22 and 30,
July 14 and August 2.
In the first meeting on June 6, both sides had arrived on a consensus for disengagement, but the Chinese violated it which lead to a
bloody standoff at Galwan on June 15. India had lost 20 soldiers while China also suffered casualties.
This is the first such meeting since the Moscow pact, a key outcome of the meeting between Indian and Chinese Foreign Ministers
S Jaishankar and Wang Yi on September 10 on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Moscow.
The agreement included measures like quick disengagement of troops, avoiding action that could escalate tensions, adherence to
all agreements and protocols on border management and steps to restore peace along the LAC.
The situation in eastern Ladakh deteriorated after China unsuccessfully attempted to occupy Indian territory in the southern bank
of Pangong lake on the intervening night of August 29 and 30.
Last week during a high-level meeting attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National
Security Advisor Ajit Doval and CDS Gen Bipin Rawat among others had cleared India’s stand for the Corps Commanders meeting.
On Thursday, the MEA said India and China has built a consensus on the need for quick and complete disengagement of troops in
Ladakh during the recent ministerial level meets between the two sides.
The Ministry said India and China should focus on easing tensions in the friction areas by refraining from any actions that may lead
to an escalation in the situation.
Following China’s fresh attempts to change the status quo in the southern bank of Pangong lake, India has further bolstered its
military presence in the region.
