Delhi weighs options as Beijing insists on claiming entire Galwan Valley

Following last night’s bloody clash, a series of meetings have been conducted at the military level along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh.

Another series of meetings were held in New Delhi with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Foreign Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the military brass mulling over various options.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi too reviewed the situation late on Tuesday with Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and Army Chief Gen MM Naravane.

The task at the LAC was the toughest. The physical fight between the troops of both sides ended well into start of Tuesday. At dawn, some Indian troops were noticed on the south bank of Galwan. The Chinese troops, however, prevented the rescue of the Indian soldiers.

The Commander of the Indian Army’s 3 Division, Maj Gen Abhijit Bapat, flew in a helicopter to the spot and negotiated the issue.

The meeting to resolve the impasse and restore some stability was on till 8 pm today, with several back-and-forth issues. China reportedly insisted on claiming the entire Galwan valley.

In New Delhi, the Defence Minister and the Foreign Minister met Gen Rawat and the three service chiefs. Later in the evening, Gen Naravane again briefed Singh before the two headed to meet the PM.

Courtesy: Daily Tribune:  17th June, 2020