Amidst continuous efforts by both the Asian nations to complete disengage and de-escalate their troops along the LAC in the Ladakh region, there has been a heightened mobilization of troops by the Chinese in the Depsang region leading to another military channels talks between both the nations.
The Major General level talks, which happen to be the sixth round of talks, after fifth round of talks between Corps Commander ranked officers on August 2, got underway at 11 am in the Daulat Beg Oldi area on the Chinese side of LAC.
The last round of negotiations were held at Moldo Border meeting point on the Chinese side of the LAC as talks needed to be held on account of some serious differences between the two armies in the Finger Area near Pangong Tso. It also came amid the Chinese People’s Liberation Army reluctance to vacate positions held by it in what New Delhi claims to be Indian territory.
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Lt Gen Harinder Singh (Corps Commander, 14 Corps) has already held five rounds of high-level military talks with Chinese army's Major General Liu Lin, the commander of the South Xinjiang military region, in an attempt to resolve the long standing border row.
Strategic Importance Of Depsang Plains In Ladakh Region
The Depsang plains is a table-top plateau to the north of Galwan Valley region in the Ladakh sector and serves as a strategically important region due to its geographical location as it provides the much required access to Indian Air Force's forward airbase and logistical hub at Daulat Beg Oldie and is not too far away from the critical Karakoram Pass in the north.
The meeting being held between the military commanders of the Indian and Chinese Armies seeks to work out a full proof solution of pulling back troops and de-escalation from the 900 sq km plains situated at an altitude of 16,000 feet.
The Indian Army holds a majority of the Depsang plains area while the People's Liberation Army holds its eastern edge. Chinese troops are concentrating on an area called 'Bottleneck', 25 km from the strategic airfield at Daulat Beg Oldie.
The troops on either side are denying patrolling rights to each other in the "grey zone" areas, where the perception of the Line of Actual Control varies by several kilometres.
India Air Force Vice Chief Harjit Singh Arora visited IAF Airbases in the forward areas along LAC in eastern Ladakh
On August 7, Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora made a visit to a number of airbases along the LAC in eastern Ladakh and reviewed the operational operational preparedness of the Air Force to deal with any eventualities in the region, officials said.
As per Indian Air Force officials, Air Marshal Singh also visited the highly strategically located Daulat Beg Oldie, known as one of the world's highest airstrip where the IAF has deployed a number of its key platforms in view of the tense border row with China. The airbase is situated at an altitude of 16,600 feet.
In his interaction with senior air warriors, the IAF Vice Chief asked them ensure a high state of combat readiness at all times, an IAF spokesperson said. During the visit, Air Marshal Singh also flew Chinook chopper and a light combat helicopter, they said.