India and China will hold the 11th round of Corps Commander talks today at Chushul to negotiate the next steps of a complex disengagement process in Eastern Ladakh.
The 11th round of talks between corps commander-rank officers is expected to focus on outstanding problems with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) at Hot Springs, Gogra, and Depsang, the officials said. It will begin on the Indian side of the Chushul-Moldo meeting point.
In February, the two sides reached an agreement and completed the first phase of disengagement on the north and south banks of Pangong Tso. Within 48 hrs the 10th round of talks was held to take forward the process during which they agreed to push for a mutually acceptable solution of remaining issues in a “steady and orderly” manner to jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas.
So far disengagement process at both banks of Pangong Lake has taken place. It was on February 10 that China made an announcement that New Delhi and Beijing had agreed to disengage at Pangong Lake.
Indian Army team along with the Chinese People`s Liberation Army (PLA) team physically verified and re-verified disengagement at Pangong Lake.
As per the agreement, Chinese troops moved back to Finger 8 and Indian troops pulled back to the Dhan Singh Thapa post between Finger 2 and 3 of the north bank of Pangong Lake.
Responding to questions on the talks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said in Beijing that India and China were in communication for holding the 11th round of talks and there was no delay in the meeting.
“I want to stress that the merit of the situation at India-China border are very clear and the responsibility does not rest with the Chinese side. We hope the Indian side will work with China to follow through the important consensus of our two leaders, abide by relevant agreements and treaties to de-escalate the tension at the border,” Mr. Zhao said.
India and China are engaged in a year-long standoff at the Line of Actual Control after Chinese troops impeded patrols by Indian forces. A brutal clash at Galwan Valley last June – which left 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops dead