CSG discusses outcome of marathon 15-hr meet at LAC
Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 15
The outcome of the marathon 15-hour meeting of the commanders of India and China was discussed by the China Study Group (CSG) headed by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval here on Wednesday.
The CSG comprises the Cabinet Secretary, the Secretaries of Home, External Affairs and Defence as well as representatives of the Services. It will take a call on the ‘further course of action’ on the graded, mutual de-escalation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh — which may be a long-drawn process stretching across several weeks.
The Northern Army Commander, Lt Gen YK Joshi, is expected to brief the CSG on the developments along the LAC. Similar discussions are reported to have been held by the Chinese side after Tuesday’s meeting in Chushul. The meeting of Lt Gen-level commanders ended at 2 am on Wednesday, indicating a partial progress. Details are awaited as to what timeline the two sides have agreed upon for pulling back troops and war-waging equipment.
It is highly possible that there may be another round of commanders’ meeting besides one by the India-China Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination (WMCC). The two nuclear-armed neighbours are locked in a bitter standoff since early May. The proposed de-escalation will include more than 45,000 troops, hundreds of artillery guns and tanks, rocket-launchers, missiles, fighter jets, airborne-bombers and attack helicopters lined up near the LAC.
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Rajnath’s Ladakh visit tomorrow
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will visit eastern Ladakh on Friday. Sources said he would carry out a comprehensive review of the security situation with Army Chief Gen MM Naravane, Lt Gen YK Joshi, Commander of the 14 Corps Lt Gen Harinder Singh and other senior officers. Singh will travel to Srinagar where he will review the LoC situation.
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Clear message: Follow all border protocols
New Delhi: India has conveyed a “very clear” message to the Chinese army that status quo must be restored in eastern Ladakh and that China will have to follow all mutually agreed protocols for border management, government sources said. PTI
