India China LAC stand-off live updates: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Army chief scheduled to visit Ladakh on Friday

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Army chief scheduled to visit Ladakh on Friday: Sources (PTI)

During his visit, Singh will carry out a comprehensive review of the security situation in the region with Gen Naravane, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Yogesh Kumar Joshi, Commander of the 14 Corps Lt Gen Harinder Singh and other senior Army officials, sources said.The visit is also aimed at boosting morale of the army personnel engaged in the seven-week bitter border faceoff with the Chinese troops in the region, sources added.

High-speed interceptor boats being sent to Pangong lake

The country’s defence establishment is finalising a plan to send a dozen new high-speed interceptor boats armed with the latest surveillance gear to Pangong Tso, where Indian and Chinese troops have been locked in a fierce confrontation since early May.

India’s ban will boost its integrity: Pompeo

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo welcomed India’s decision to ban dozens of apps with Chinese links, saying its “clean app approach will boost its integrity and national security”. “We welcome India’s ban on certain mobile apps that serves as an appendage of CCP’s surveillance state.”

Official sources said “both sides emphasised the need for an expeditious, phased and step-wise de-escalation as a priority” during the 12-hour-long meet between 14 Corps commander Lt-Gen Harinder Singh and South Xinjiang Military District chief Major General Liu Lin at Chushul on Tuesday

However, there has been no breakthrough as yet in defusing the major troop confrontation at Pangong Tso, where PLA soldiers have built a large number of fortifications as well as taken the dominating heights after occupying the “Finger-4 to 8 area” (mountainous spurs separated by 8-km distance) on the north bank of the lake since early May.

India, China agree to restart Galwan, Hot Springs pullback

India and China have broadly agreed to restart the gradual and verifiable troop disengagement from “friction points” in Galwan Valley and Gogra-Hot Springs areas of eastern Ladakh, which got derailed the last time after Chinese soldiers reneged on the pullback agreement, leading to the bloody clashes on June 15.