Disengagement of troops must for continuing dialogue: Min
India on Friday said situation is “not normal” at the border in eastern Ladakh and talks with China to ease tension are moving at “a slower pace than desirable.” The disengagement of troops from both sides is a must for de-escalation and continuing dialogue is “work in progress,” it said.
India raised these concerns during the three-hour long meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. It was the first visit by a Chinese Minister to New Delhi since trouble erupted at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh nearly two years ago. At present, more than 50,000 troops each from both the sides are facing each other at some friction points at the LAC leading to heightened tension.
Wang’s visit signaled a possible thaw in the stalemate. Asked if any timeline was agreed upon for disengagement and de-escalation along the LAC, Jaishankar said, “There was no timeline... A parallel but a separate discussion took place in regard to sorting out the situation in border areas.” Giving details of his delegation-level talks with the Chinese Minister, Jaishankar told the media the current situation between India and China on the eastern Ladakh issue is “a work in progress” but moving at a “slower pace than desirable.”
He said talks with his Chinese counterpart were held in a candid and open manner and the agenda was broad and substantive.
Stressing that tension at the LAC led to disturbance in the region, Jaishankar said restoration of normal bilateral ties will require normalcy there. He said there should not be any effort to change the status quo.
He said 15 rounds of talks were held between the Corps Commanders of the two Armies since April 2020 leading to some progress at several friction points.
Though he did not elaborate, the Minister was obviously referring to disengagement of troops from the north and south banks of the Pangong Tso (lake) in Ladakh in February last year followed by withdrawal of troops from some points in Gogra.
