At meet with China, India insists on total pullout at LAC to restore peace

Ajay Banerjee

New Delhi, February 21

Military commanders of India and China have met yet again for what is the 21st round of talks to diffuse tensions, festering since April 2020, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.

The Ministry of External Affairs posted a statement on its website which details, “Discussions took place on the previous rounds, seeking complete disengagement in the remaining areas along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh, as an essential basis for restoration of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas”.

The India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting was held at Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on February 19. The MEA noted, “The two sides shared their perspective in the talks that were held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere”. The two sides agreed to maintain communication on the way ahead through relevant military and diplomatic mechanisms. They also committed to maintaining peace on the ground in the border areas in the interim, the statement said.

The last round of talks was held on October 9-10, 2023. India and China are looking at ending the ongoing impasse along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, where the two militaries have been locked in a stand-off since April 2020.

Differences remain unresolved over pulling back of troops from the Depsang plains and Charding Nullah, near Demchok.

There is a deadlock over the pending resolution of disputes at Depsang, a 972 sq km plateau where the two sides have an issue over troops’ positions, especially at the ‘bottleneck’ on the eastern edge of Depsang.

India has already suggested to China that a graded three-step process is needed to ease the standoff. The first is disengagement of troops within close proximity of each other in grey zones along the LAC and getting back to positions as on April 2020.

The next two steps — de-escalation and de-induction —would entail pulling back troops and equipment to the pre-April 2020 levels. Till that is agreed upon and complied, it cannot be assumed to be business as usual and Indian troops intend to remain at the LAC.