Seventh round of talks between India and China today to de-escalate border tensions

Senior military officials of India and China today held their seventh round of talks with the sole agenda of finalising a roadmap for disengagement of troops from all the friction points in eastern Ladakh as the border standoff entered the sixth month with an early resolution to the row appearing dim.

The talks at the Corps Commander level began at around 12 noon in Chushul on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, official sources said. The Indian delegation is led by Lt Gen Harinder Singh, the commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps, and includes Naveen Srivastava, Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Nearly, 100,000 Indian and Chinese troops are deployed in eastern Ladakh as both sides are holding their ground and showing readiness for a long-haul even as diplomatic and military talks to find an amicable solution continue.

Ahead of the talks, the sources said India will reiterate early and complete disengagement of troops by China from all friction points besides demanding restoration of immediate restoration of status quo ante in all areas of eastern Ladakh prior to April. The standoff began on May 5.

Indian officials said India will strongly oppose any demand by China for withdrawal of Indian troops from several strategic heights on the southern bank of the Pangong Lake to kick-start the disengagement process.

During the sixth round of Corps Commander talks on September 21, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) insisted on withdrawal of troops by the Indian Army from several strategic heights in Mukhpari, Rezang La and Magar Hill areas around the southern bank of Pangong Lake.

Indian troops had occupied the strategic heights after the PLA soldiers attempted to intimidate them in the southern bank of Pangong Lake on the intervening night of August 29 and 30.

Following the last round of military talks, the two sides announced a slew of decisions including not to send more troops to the frontline, refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground and avoid taking any actions that may further complicate matters.