New Delhi: The 14th round of Corps Commander talks between India and China to resolve the ongoing standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is reportedly scheduled to take place on January 12.
So far, 13 military-level talks have been held between India and China on the Line of Actual Control in the eastern Ladakh region to resolve the standoff.
Read also | Made arrangements for 70,000 people, but there were only 500: Sidhu on PM Modi’s visit to Punjab
The 14th round of India-China talks mainly to resolve the hot springs area is likely to be held on January 12 – the only new friction point between the two countries yet to be resolved, news agency ANI quoted government sources as saying. . ,
According to inputs, this will be the first time that Indian Army’s new 14 ‘Fire and Fury’ Corps Commander Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta will represent India in talks with the Chinese side. He formally assumed office on Tuesday.
Both sides are eyeing a solution to the hot springs friction point that emerged after the Chinese invasion last year. Sources told ANI that the friction points on the banks of Pangong Lake and Gogra Heights have been resolved, but the hot springs are yet to be addressed.
In addition, the report mentions that India is also seeking solutions to “the DBO region and the CNN junction area which have gone beyond the April-May deadline of last year and are considered legacy issues”.
India-China military talks
The 13th round of Corps Commander-level military talks in October ended in a standoff with the Indian Army saying its “constructive suggestions” were not acceptable to the Chinese side.
In virtual diplomatic talks on 18 November, India and China agreed to hold the 14th round of military talks at the earliest to meet the objective of complete disengagement at 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 rushing in thousands of soldiers with heavy weapons.
After a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides last year completed the demilitarization process on the northern and southern banks of Pangong Lake and the Gogra region.
At present, each side is reported to have around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the sensitive area.
(with agency input)