India Expects China To Work 'Sincerely' For 'Complete' Disengagement And De-escalation Of Troops In Eastern Ladakh: MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava while responding to a spree of questions on the stand-off between the Asian neighbours in eastern Ladakh gave a reference of the decisions taken by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on complete disengagement of troops along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh

(Representative Image/ Getty)

India on Thursday once again reiterated its stand to douse off the simmering tensions over the border row with China in the Eastern Ladakh sector by making it clear that it expects the Chinese regime to work "sincerely" for "complete" disengagement and de-escalation of its troops in eastern Ladakh in line with what was decided by their Special Representatives last month. The Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava while responding to a spree of questions on the stand-off between the Asian neighbours in eastern Ladakh gave a reference of the decisions taken by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on complete disengagement of troops along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh during their telephonic talks on July 5. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi are Special Representatives for boundary talks from India and China respectively . Srivastava made his assessment of the ground situation over the long standing border row with China amid reports and claims that the Chinese People's Liberation Army(PLA) in eastern Ladakh has not moved withdrawn completely from their ground position along the critical areas of Pangong Tso and Depsang, as India had demanded over a series of military level talks. "The two Special Representatives had agreed that early and complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC and de-escalation from India-China border areas in accordance with bilateral agreement and protocols and full restoration of peace and tranquility was essential for the smooth overall development of bilateral relations," Srivastava said. "We also expect that the Chinese side will work with us sincerely for complete disengagement and de-escalation and full restoration of peace and tranquility in the border areas," he said. The statements by the MEA spokesperson came in the backdrop of the Army Chief Gen Naravane's visit to Indian Army's 4 Corps headquartered in Tezpur for taking a detailed stock of the forces preparedness along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh, official sources said. The Army chief was given a detailed briefing by senior army officials about deployment of troops and the weaponry along the LAC, the de-facto border between India and China. In view of the tense border row with China in eastern Ladakh, the army has significantly stepped  up its deployment of troops in all critical  areas along the nearly 3,500-km-long LAC, which include Ladakh , Arunachal and Sikkim sectors.