At the third round of Corps Commander level talks between India and China, both sides emphasised the need for “an expeditious, phased and step wise de-escalation as a priority” to reduce tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh and agreed to hold more meetings to arrive at “a mutually agreeable solution”.

“This is in keeping with the agreement between External Affairs Minister and his Chinese counterpart during their conversation on June 17 that the overall situation would be handled in a responsible manner, and that both sides would implement the disengagement understanding of June 6 sincerely”, a military source said.

More meetings are expected both at the military and at the diplomatic level, in future, to arrive at mutually agreeable solution and to ensure peace and tranquility along the LAC as per bilateral agreements and protocols,sources stated.

The talks between Lt. Gen. Harinder Singh, General Officer Commanding of the Leh-based 14 Corps, and Maj. Gen. Liu Lin, Commander of the South Xinjiang Military District, began around 11 am at the Border Meeting Point at Chushul on the Indian side and went on for over 12 hours close to midnight. It has been learnt that both sides agreed to take forward the stalled process of disengagement and de-escalation at all friction points in Ladakh.

Long meeting

Stating that the process of disengagement was complex, the source said the meeting was long and held in a businesslike manner keeping in view the COVID-19 protocols and the discussions reflected the commitment of both sides to reduce the tensions along the LAC.

In the first round of senior commander talks on June 6, both sides identified five conflict areas, Patrolling Point (PP) 14, 15 and 17A, North of Pangong Tso and Chushul, and agreed for limited “de-escalation” from some of these areas. It was during this “de-escalation” process near PP 14 in Galwan valley that the violent clash occurred, resulting in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers, including a Colonel and an unknown number of casualties on the Chinese side.

Also read: The Hindu Explains | Who does Galwan Valley belong to?

At the second round of talks on June 22 too, the two sides came to a “mutual consensus” to disengage along the LAC and modalities for disengagement from all friction areas in Eastern Ladakh were discussed. However, there has been no progress on the ground since.

On the contrary, between the Galwan clash and the second round of talks, satellite images show that China has rebuilt the observation point and also additional defensive positions at Galwan. Similarly, there has been further consolidation of positions and additional defences at Finger 4 area of Pangong Tso and also along the ridges overlooking Indian positions. There has also been massive build-up by China in the Despang plains, which lies close to the crucial Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldi (DSDBO) road linking the Sub Sector North on one side and the Siachen glacier on the other.

India’s consistent demand has been the restoration of status quo ante of pre May 5 positions and de-induction of forces built up by China along the LAC. China has undertaken massive mobilisation of forces, tanks, armoured vehicles, air defences and fighters close to the LAC. India too has moved in additional divisions, tanks and artillery to match Chinese deployments.

Pakistan deployments

Meanwhile, on the western front along the Line of Control, Pakistan has increased its troops deployments with numbers more than during the Balakot air strike in February last year.

There has been an increase by up to two Divisions, or about 20,000 troops, along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, a second military source said. Pakistan radars along the LoC were also fully active, the source stated. Pakistan has activated the Sakrdu air base in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, which is seeing heightened air activity.