In a rare occurrence of two-day military talks, India and China have reached an agreement to promptly address the outstanding matters along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, as stated by the Ministry of External Affairs in a readout.
Describing the 19th round of Corps Commander-level discussions at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point as "positive, constructive, and in-depth," the talks yielded no immediate breakthrough concerning troop disengagement at the remaining friction points.
Both sides engaged in a comprehensive dialogue on the resolution of remaining LAC issues in the Western Sector. Reflecting the leadership's guidance, they shared their perspectives openly and with a forward-looking approach. The official statement was released concurrently in Delhi and Beijing.
The outcome of the talks is an agreement to expeditiously resolve the pending issues while sustaining the dialogue's momentum through both military and diplomatic channels. In the interim, a commitment to maintain peace and tranquility in the border regions has been reaffirmed.
These discussions occurred just prior to Independence Day and less than a month ahead of the G20 Leaders' Summit scheduled in New Delhi. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to participate in the summit on September 9 and 10.
Since the initiation of the Corps Commander-level dialogues in 2020, both nations have effectively executed disengagement at five friction points, including Galwan, the north and south banks of Pangong Tso, and Patrolling Points (PP) 15 and 17A in the Gogra-Hot Springs area.
However, challenges emerged during the recent talks concerning the disengagement from Depsang Plains and Demchok. China argued that these issues predated the 2020 standoff. India's consistent stance remains that normalized bilateral relations with China hinge upon the resolution of the standoff.
