The rare two-day India-China military talks held this Sunday and Monday failed to make any immediate headway on the critical issue of Chinese presence in Depsang Plains but both sides agreed to "resolve the remaining issues in an expeditious manner", The Print reported Tuesday.
The primary points of focus of the 19th round of talks was the Depsang Plains, which fall under India's Sub Sector North (SSN). As elsewhere, the Line of Actual Control (LAC) here is disputed. The SSN is sandwiched between the Siachen Glacier on one side and Chinese-controlled Aksai Chin on the other, making it strategically important.
A joint statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Chinese foreign ministry Tuesday said that the meeting was held on the Indian side of the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on 13-14 August 2023.
This was the first time that both sides held talks that lasted for two days, a fact that was kept under wraps until the joint statement was issued. It added that the two sides had a positive, constructive and in-depth discussion on the resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in the Western Sector.
In line with the guidance provided by the leadership, both sides exchanged views in an open and forward-looking manner, it added. "They agreed to resolve the remaining issues in an expeditious manner and maintain the momentum of dialogue and negotiations through military and diplomatic channels. In the interim, the two sides agreed to maintain the peace and tranquility on the ground in the border areas," said the joint statement.
Talks are deadlocked over the pending resolution of disputes at Depsang, a 972-sq-km plateau where the two sides have issues over troops positions especially at 'bottleneck' on the eastern edge of Depsang, according to Tribune of India.
India has been objecting to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) deliberately blocking Indian patrols on this specific patrolling route in Depsang. Prior to April 2020, Indian troops used the patrolling route, however, the PLA has been craftily using a clause in a 30-year-old border agreement to block Indian patrols.
Despite disengagement from the Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso, Gogra (PP-17A) and Hot Springs (PP-15), the Indian and Chinese armies continue to maintain thousands of troops and equipment along the LAC.
India has been seeking restoration of status quo as of April 2020 in areas which saw tensions beginning May 2020, besides resolution of earlier disagreements including those over Depsang Plains, according to The Print.
The 19th round of China-India military talks came ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping's scheduled visit to Johannesburg for the BRICS Summit (August 22-24), where the possibility of a bilateral meeting between the two has not been ruled out.
Over 68,000 airlifted
The Week quoted defense sources as saying that India had airlifted over 68,000 Army soldiers, around 90 tanks and other weapon systems to eastern Ladakh from across the country for rapid deployment along the LAC after the deadly clashes in the Galwan Valley.
The Indian Air Forde deployed its Su-30 MKI and Jaguar jets for round-the-clock surveillance and intelligence gathering on the enemy build-up, besides putting several squadrons of combat aircraft in "offensive posturing" since the 2020 clashes.
The troops and weapons were ferried by the transport fleet of the IAF within a "very short period of time" for quick deployment in various inhospitable areas along the LAC under a special operation, the sources said while highlighting how the force's strategic airlift capability has increased over the years.
In view of the escalating tensions, the IAF had also deployed a sizeable number of remotely piloted aircraft (RPAs) in the region to keep a hawk-eye vigil on Chinese activities, they said.
Over 68,000 troops, more than 90 tanks, nearly 330 BMP infantry combat vehicles, radar systems, artillery guns and many other equipment were moved to LAC after the Galwan clashes, they said. The total load carried by the transport fleet of the IAF, which included C-130J Super Hercules and C-17 Globemaster aircraft, was 9,000 tonnes and displayed the IAF's increasing strategic airlift capabilities, they added.
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