Also Read: India Rejects China's Proposal Of 'Equidistant Disengagement' From Finger 4 Area Along LAC In Eastern Ladakh, Demands Restoration Of Status Quo
Rawat made it clear that India is open to take up a military option to tackle the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China in Ladakh, while speaking to Hindustan Times. He however said that the military option will be considered only if all talks between the Indian and Chinese armies fail to yield results.
He, however, declined to discuss military options.
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The Indian and Chinese Army have been engaged in a border row along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) since April-May when the Chinese Army (PLA) moved its troops deployed along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh sector.
In the latest development in the ongoing de-escalation talks, China has proposed that if the Indian Army pulls back from the Finger 4 area of Pangong lake along the LAC axis, then the China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) too will step back the same distance. India has turned down this proposal and has asked PLA troops to go to the old position behind Finger 8.
Rajnath Singh reviews situation
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday held a meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and the top military brass to discuss the situation at the border with China. India has reconciled to having around 35,000 troops through the winter when the temperature is below -40 degree Celsius in Eastern Ladakh as talks remain deadlocked and now the bigger problem is logistics. India has to move around three additional formations to reinforce the border.
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India has to build at least 5,000 habitats and construction in the inhospitable terrain generally stops in September. Singh held the review meeting with Doval, Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat and the three service chiefs on the prevailing situation at the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh where Chinese troops are still camping.
The meeting, however, could not result in any substantial outcome, agencies reported. It is to be noted that the formal process of disengagement of troops from both sides began on July 6, a day after a nearly two-hour telephonic conversation between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. However, the process has not moved forward since mid-July and deadlock has been prevailing.