AgenciesNew Delhi: A meeting of the top-level China Study Group was held on Friday to finalise the agenda for crucial military commander level talks with China on the border situation in Ladakh that are expected to take place within the next three days.
The meeting, attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and Army Chief Gen MM Naravane among others, took stock of the current situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and has identified the issues to be discussed with China.
Sources said India is likely to discuss disengagement along the entire stretch of the border that has seen tensions in the past months and is not likely to consider talks only on specific areas like the Chushul Sub Sector where Indian forces took strategic heights and passes in late August.
There is also a view that disengagement and de-escalation have to be discussed at the same time, to ensure that not just forward deployed troops but also forces built up in the depth areas go back to positions as of early March.
Sources said that the Corps Commander level meeting –– considered to be the most crucial as both sides decided at the foreign minister level to decrease tensions –– is likely to take place within the next two to three days at the border.
It is still not clear whether there will be representation from the External Affairs Ministry at the meeting, given that there is a view that the Chinese side has been saying one thing during the talks and acting differently on the ground.
While there is cautious optimism on the talks, the army is preparing to stay on this winter in the icy heights along the LAC, with a logistics supply chain in place. The army has ordered special extreme weather condition clothing, tents and other equipment to ensure soldiers who man forward posts located at over 18,000 feet, will be able to endure the coming winter season.
The meeting, attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and Army Chief Gen MM Naravane among others, took stock of the current situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and has identified the issues to be discussed with China.
Sources said India is likely to discuss disengagement along the entire stretch of the border that has seen tensions in the past months and is not likely to consider talks only on specific areas like the Chushul Sub Sector where Indian forces took strategic heights and passes in late August.
There is also a view that disengagement and de-escalation have to be discussed at the same time, to ensure that not just forward deployed troops but also forces built up in the depth areas go back to positions as of early March.
Sources said that the Corps Commander level meeting –– considered to be the most crucial as both sides decided at the foreign minister level to decrease tensions –– is likely to take place within the next two to three days at the border.
It is still not clear whether there will be representation from the External Affairs Ministry at the meeting, given that there is a view that the Chinese side has been saying one thing during the talks and acting differently on the ground.
While there is cautious optimism on the talks, the army is preparing to stay on this winter in the icy heights along the LAC, with a logistics supply chain in place. The army has ordered special extreme weather condition clothing, tents and other equipment to ensure soldiers who man forward posts located at over 18,000 feet, will be able to endure the coming winter season.