Fresh Round Of Diplomatic Talks On LAC Standoff At Ladakh Today As India Again Rejects China's Claim On Galwan Valley

The fresh round of talks to further de-escalate the ground situation along the LAC will take place after the People's Liberation Army of China completed the pull back of its troops by 2-kilometres at three patrolling points along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh.

Indian and Chinese Soldiers (Image: PTI)

Another round of diplomatic talks to work out the modalities of the disengagement between the troops of the Indian and Chinese Army along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is likely on the cards today as India has once again rejected China's claim over Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh sector. The fresh round of talks to further de-escalate the heated on-ground situation between the armies of the nations along the LAC  will take place after the People's Liberation Army of China completed the pull back of its troops by 2-kilometres at three patrolling points along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh as part of the disengagement process. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said India remained convinced of the need for maintenance of peace and tranquility in the border areas and resolution of differences through dialogue, but at the same time asserted that the country is committed to ensuring its sovereignty and territorial integrity. At an online media briefing, the foriegn ministry spokesperson said the Line of Actual Control (LAC) must be strictly respected and observed as it is the basis for peace and tranquillity in border areas. Srivastava said National Security Advisor Ajit Doval made India's stance very clear to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday over the recent developments along the LAC including in the Galwan valley area. Doval and Wang, the special representatives for border talks, held a telephonic conversation following which armies of the two countries began disengagement of troops from friction points in eastern Ladakh. "The NSA emphasised in this context that the Indian troops had always taken a very responsible approach towards border management and at the same time, our forces were deeply committed to ensuring India’s sovereignty and security," Srivastava said. As per sources tracking the Sino-India border conflict very closely, the two sides will hold another online meeting on Friday on the border row under the framework of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China border affairs. In the briefing, the MEA spokesperson reiterated that the recent Chinese claims to the Galwan Valley area are "exaggerated and untenable" and that the LAC must be strictly respected and observed as it the basis for peace and tranquillity in the border areas. "We remain convinced of the need for maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and the resolution of differences through dialogue, at the same time, we are also strongly committed to ensuring India's sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said.