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Business News/ News / India/  Border row: India, China engaged in fresh clashes
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Border row: India, China engaged in fresh clashes

So far, the two sides have agreed to ensure they do not move in more troops to the frontline and refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground

Tensions between India and China have been simmering since May, with both sides having deployed tens of thousands of troops backed by artillery, missile batteries, and fighter air craft. (File Photo: AFP)Premium
Tensions between India and China have been simmering since May, with both sides having deployed tens of thousands of troops backed by artillery, missile batteries, and fighter air craft. (File Photo: AFP)

New Delhi: India and China on Monday said they had “positive" and “constructive" talks on reducing tensions as they agreed to work towards an “early disengagement" of tens of thousands of troops amassed along their common borders for months.

This was the main takeaway from a long session of talks that started on Sunday morning and ended in the early hours of Monday. The Indian delegation was led by Lt. General P.G.K. Menon, general officer commanding of Leh-based 14 Corps, which oversees security in Ladakh.

But while the two countries reported talks that they said “further enhanced mutual trust and understanding," evidence of the simmering tensions between the two countries came to the fore on Monday with the Indian Army saying soldiers of the two sides were engaged in a ‘minor’ face-off at Naku La in north Sikkim last week.

The situation was however resolved by local commanders following established protocols, the Indian Army in a statement also on Monday.

Analysts in India, however, called the 20 January’s incident “provocative", coming days before senior military commanders of the two countries were to meet on 24 January for talks at Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Sunday’s talks were “candid" and resulted in an “in-depth exchange of views on disengagement," a joint statement after the talks said.

“The two sides agreed to push for an early disengagement of the frontline troops," it said adding that the delegations agreed to “hold the 10th round of the Corps Commander Level Meeting at an early date to jointly advance de-escalation."

“The two sides agreed to continue their effective efforts in ensuring the restraint of the frontline troops, stabilize and control the situation along the LAC in the Western Sector of the China-India border, and jointly maintain peace and tranquility," it added.

Lt. General (retired) Deependra Singh Hooda, former head of the Indian Army’s Northern Command was of the view that the principles of disengagement had to be finalized at the diplomatic and political level rather than the military level. “The military commanders then work out how it will play out on the ground," he said.

Tensions between India and China have been simmering since last May. Both sides have deployed tens of thousands of troops backed by artillery, missile batteries and fighter jets. In fact, following a serious clash between Indian and Chinese troops on 5 May 2020, along the banks of Pangong Tso in Ladakh, the troops were yet again involved in another serious clash at Naku La, which led to injuries on both sides.

The incidents prompted India to mobilize troops to secure its borders along the LAC.

“It is clarified that there was a minor face-off at Naku La area of North Sikkim on 20 January and the same was resolved by local commanders as per established protocols," the Indian Army said in a statement. Two people aware of the incident said Chinese troops had attempted to transgress into Indian territory, but were stopped by the Indian Army. One of the two people cited above said a physical fight broke out injuring soldiers on both sides.

Hooda said “the Chinese are attempting establish permanence to their claims" in the disputed areas along the LAC. While one of the ways of doing this was to challenge Indian patrols along the Pangong Tso lake, another was by building a new village in an area in Arunachal Pradesh. The village was being built in an area that both countries recognize as disputed though under Chinese occupation since 1959, Hooda said. “Knowing that there were military level talks to take place it was provocative."

Following the mobilization of troops in Ladakh last May, India strengthened its vigil along the 3,000-km border with China, including the 23 posts, which are seen as possible areas for incursions by the People’s Liberation Arm.

Indian Army chief Manoj Mukund Naravane had told reporters earlier this month that Indian troops will hold their ground as long as it takes to achieve the “national goals and objectives" while expressing hopes of an amicable resolution to the border standoff through talks.

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Published: 25 Jan 2021, 04:22 PM IST
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