Ladakh Standoff: India, China Resume Diplomatic Talks; Vow To Work Towards Complete Disengagement

The two sides agreed that the next round of military dialogue should be held at an early date so that they can work towards an early and complete disengagement of troop.

(Representative Image/ Getty)

New Delhi: After more than two months of halt, India and China on Friday resumed diplomatic talks on their military standoff and agreed to continue working towards ensuring complete disengagement of troops in all friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh at the earliest. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two sides agreed that the next round of military dialogue should be held at an early date so that they can work towards an early and complete disengagement of troops in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements and protocols. The talks between the two countries, who are engaged in a months-long border standoff, were held under the framework of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China border affairs. As per reports, the meeting was co-chaired by Naveen Srivastava, joint secretary (East Asia) of the external affairs ministry, and Hong Liang, director general of the department of boundary and oceanic affairs of China’s foreign ministry. Informing about the minutes of meeting, MEA said that both sides reviewed the developments along the LAC since the last round of the WMCC talks held on September 30. The military standoff erupted in early May. "The two sides agreed that based on the guidance provided by senior leaders and the agreements reached between the two Foreign Ministers and Special Representatives, they would continue to work towards ensuring complete disengagement in all friction points along the LAC in the Western sector at the earliest," news agency PTI quoted MEA official statement. "The two sides noted that the seventh and eighth rounds of senior commanders meetings held on October 12 and November 6 respectively had in-depth discussions in this regard and that these discussions had also contributed to ensuring stability on the ground," the statement read further. Both Indian Army and China's People Liberation Army (PLA) agreed to maintain close consultations at the diplomatic and military level. "They agreed that the next round of senior commanders meeting should be held at an early date so that both sides can work towards early and complete disengagement of troops along the LAC in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements and protocols, and fully restore peace and tranquillity," it said. Prior to this, India and China have held several rounds of diplomatic and military talks in the last few months to resolve the ongoing standoff at Ladakh LAC. The talks came a day after India hoped that further discussions between the two countries will help to achieve an agreement on a mutually acceptable solution for ensuring complete disengagement in all friction points along the LAC in eastern Ladakh. As per reports, nearly 50,000 Indian Army troops are deployed in a high state of combat readiness in various mountainous locations in eastern Ladakh in sub-zero conditions as multiple rounds of talks between the two sides have not yielded concrete outcome to resolve the standoff. China has also deployed an equal number of troops. The eighth and last round of military talks had taken place on November 6 during which both sides broadly discussed disengagement of troops from specific friction points. On Thursday, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that the two countries continue to maintain communication through diplomatic and military channels and these discussions have helped both sides to enhance understanding of each other's positions.