Ladakh Standoff: Next Talks Likely On July 17, India To Seek Resolution For Depsang, Demchok With China

In the forthcoming round of talks, Indian side is likely to press for disengagement of troops as soon as possible in all the remaining friction points. 

Indian and Chinese armies are most likely hold the 16th round of military level talks on July 17 to resolve the ongoing standoff between New Delhi and Beijing over the remaining friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. According reports, both Indian Army and China's People Liberation Army (PLA) has over 50,000 to 60,000 troops delployed at the sensative locations along LAC. 

The last round of talks between both the armies took place on March 11. "The 16th round of Corps Commander-level talks are likely to take place on July 17," a source to news agency PTI said. 

In the forthcoming round of talks, the source said, that the Indian side is likely to press for disengagement of troops as soon as possible in all the remaining friction points. 

During the discussion, Indian Army will also seek resolution of issues in Depsang Bulge and Demchok.

The reports of 16th round of talks between India and China came days after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Bali on the sidelines of a conclave of foreign ministers of the G20 nations. 

During the meeting, Jaishankar conveyed to Wang the need for early resolution of all the outstanding issues in eastern Ladakh.

Jiashankar told Wang that relationship between the two neighbouring should be based on "three mutuals" - mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests. 

"Recalling the disengagement achieved in some friction areas, the external affairs minister reiterated the need to sustain the momentum to complete disengagement from all the remaining areas to restore peace and tranquillity in the border areas," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement after the meeting. 

"Reaffirmed the importance of fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols, and the understandings reached between the two ministers during their previous conversations," MEA added.

In the last level military talks held in May, both the sides agreed to hold the next round of the Senior Commanders' meeting at an early date to achieve complete disengagement from all friction points in eastern Ladakh.