India is looking at 3 steps to ease standoff: disengagement, de-escalation and deinduction of troops & arms

Four months after the last meeting of the military commanders of India and China, the two sides are set for another meeting on July 17.

The meeting will aim to resolve the pending issues at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

The last round of talks on March 11 had ended in a stalemate. The two sides have been locked in a military standoff since April 2020 with thousands of troops, guns, tanks and missiles on either side of the LAC. The build-up shows no signs of getting back to the pre-April 2020 level.

The meeting planned for July 17 will be the 16th round of talks since June 6, 2020.

The two sides are expected to discuss disengagement of troops at patrolling point PP-15, also known as Hot Springs. The issue of the Depsang Bulge, a 972 sq km plateau, will be taken up after the Hot Springs matter gets resolved. Patrolling in disputed areas has been suspended since April 2020.

India is looking for a graded resolution and a three-step process to ease the standoff: disengagement of troops, de-escalation of tension followed by de-induction of all troops, weapons and equipment.

Till these steps are completed, the Indian troops intend to remain at the LAC that is not demarcated on the ground. India shares an 832 km-long LAC with China in the eastern Ladakh sector.

The two sides are expected to discuss disengagement of troops at patrolling point PP-15, also known as Hot Springs. The issue of the Depsang Bulge, a 972 sq km plateau, will be taken up after the Hot Springs matter gets resolved. Patrolling in disputed areas has been suspended since April 2020.

India is looking for a graded resolution and a three-step process to ease the standoff: disengagement of troops, de-escalation of tension followed by de-induction of all troops, weapons and equipment.

Till these steps are completed, the Indian troops intend to remain at the LAC that is not demarcated on the ground. India shares an 832 km-long LAC with China in the eastern Ladakh sector.

The meeting on July 17 is slated to be conducted on the Chinese side of the Chushul-Moldo meeting point at the LAC in eastern Ladakh. After the last meeting on March 11, a statement of the Ministry of Defence had then said: “The two sides carried forward their discussions from the previous round held on January 12 for the resolution of the relevant issues along the LAC in the western sector.” India wants restoration of status quo as on April 2020.

Courtesy: The Tribune India :13th July , 2022