New Delhi, 10 January
India is looking forward to “constructive” talks with China to resolve issues in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh, sources in the security establishment said on Monday, ahead of the 14th round of military talks on a 20-month row between the two sides. last state.
Sources said the talks will take place on January 12 at the Chushul-Moldo meeting place on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh.
He said that the ‘Senior Highest Military Commander Level (SHMCL)’ talks would start at 9.30 am.
“The Indian side is looking forward to constructive dialogue to resolve the conflicting areas of balance,” a source said.
It is learned that the main focus of the talks will be on decolonization in the Hot Springs area.
The Indian side is expected to press for early disengagement in all remaining friction points including resolution of issues at Depsang Bulge and Demchok.
The 13th round of talks was held on 10 October 2021 and they ended in a deadlock.
The two sides failed to make any progress in talks with the Indian Army after the talks, stating that the “constructive suggestions” made by it were neither acceptable to the Chinese side nor could it provide any “forward” proposals. Was.
In their virtual diplomatic talks on 18 November, India and China agreed to hold the 14th round of military talks at the earliest to achieve the objective of complete disengagement in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh.
The eastern Ladakh border standoff between Indian and Chinese armies began on May 5, 2020, following violent clashes in the Pangong Lake areas.
Both sides gradually increased their deployment by carrying thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weapons.
As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides last year completed the demilitarization process on the northern and southern shores of Pangong Lake and in the Gogra region.
Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the sensitive area. PTI