India-China standoff live updates: Army chief visits forward areas in Ladakh, reviews ground situation

Maintaining peace and tranquility along Sino-India border in common interests of both parties: China

Defence ministry spokesman Col Wu Qian said the two defence ministers are negotiating on the phone. "The two sides held a second military-level meeting on June 22 to exchange in-depth views on controlling tensions and maintaining peace and stability in the border areas," he said. Read more

India, China holding diplomatic talks to ease border tension, reports PTI.

The talks are scheduled to be held between MEA Joint Secretary (East Asia) Naveen Srivastava and Director General in the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs Wu Jianghao, they said. The talks are being held two days after Chinese and Indian armies arrived at a "mutual consensus" to "disengage" from all the friction points in eastern Ladakh.

Stand with Army, threat to territorial integrity will be fought with equal force: Ladakh MP

Read: Indian Army Chief awards commendation cards to soldiers who fought Chinese troops in face-offs in Ladakh

Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Wednesday awarded commendation cards to the soldiers, who fought with the Chinese troops in face-offs in the Eastern Ladakh sector, Army sources said. Earlier in the day, Army Chief visited the forward locations in the Eastern Ladakh area as he is on a two-day visit to Ladakh to review the on-ground situation and the progress in talks with the Chinese military following the Galwan valley clash, which claimed lives of 20 Indian Army personnel.

Without understanding the history and geography of the issue, Congress leaders are giving irresponsible statements: Naqvi

Read: India's security and dignity is fully maintained; Centre doesn't need clearance certificate from Congress, says Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

"China has also opposed the USA-Japan-Australia-India's quadrilateral coalition which aims to maintain regional balance," Rathore said.

China wants India to be restricted to South Asia and does not want New Delhi to become a regional leader: Rathore

Col Rajyavardhan Rathore said that between 2014-2019, India constructed twice the number of bridges that existed in the region and road construction has gone up by 33%.

The former Union minister said that Col Chewang Rinchen Setu, too has been a major reason behind China's June 15 clash with Indian troops at Galwan Valley.

The Setu was inaugurated in 2019 and is India's highest altitude all-weather permanent bridge in eastern Ladakh.

Read: Infrastructural development in Eastern Ladakh irked China, says former Union minister Col Rajyavardhan Rathore

In a Facebook Live session, Rathore, who retired from the Army as a Colonel in 2013, listed a series of infrastructure projects which had long been stalled due to "direct and indirect interference by China" but were completed under the Narendra Modi government.

Read: Army Chief visits forward areas in Ladakh; takes stock of ground situation

"General M M Naravane #COAS visited forward areas in Eastern #Ladakh and reviewed operational situation on the ground. #COAS commended the troops for their high morale and exhorted them to continue working with zeal and enthusiasm," the Army said in a tweet.

Army Chief commended troops for their high morale, exhorted them to continue working with zeal and enthusiasm, reports ANI quoting the Indian Army.

Read: Army Chief on visit to forward locations in Eastern Ladakh, to interact with troops

On the second day of his two-day visit to Ladakh to review the on-ground situation and the progress in talks with the Chinese military, Army Chief General MM Naravane on Wednesday is on a visit to the forward locations in the Eastern Ladakh area. The Army chief will also interact with troops on the ground.

On his two-day visit to Ladakh, Army Chief General MM Naravane is on a visit to the forward locations in the Eastern Ladakh area today. The chief will also interact with troops on the ground there: Army Sources (ANI)