During high-level military talks, India once again requested China to withdraw its forward deployed forces and restore Indian soldiers' rights to patrol the strategically important Depsang Plains and Demchok in eastern Ladakh.
Details regarding the 19th session of the corps commander-level negotiations, which was held on the Indian side of the Chushul-Moldo border crossing point in eastern Ladakh, has not yet been officially announced. However, what was definitely out of the ordinary was that, unlike the previous rounds, the negotiations ended by about 5.30 p.m.
While there was no immediate information on China’s response at the military dialogue, led by 14 Corps commander Lt-General Rashim Bali and the South Xinjiang Military District chief, it came just ahead of the BRICS summit in South Africa on August 22-24, where both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping will be present. Xi is also slated to visit India for the G20 summit on September 9-10.
“The military talks were conducted in a frank, cordial and in-depth manner on Monday. Let’s wait for a formal outcome after clearance from the political leadership,” a top official said. For a thaw to take place in the tense military confrontation in eastern Ladakh, which is into its fourth year now, China will have to agree to restore patrolling rights of Indian soldiers by following the sequential process of disengagement, de-escalation and de-induction.
According to sources, the Indian delegation made it clear that the long-delayed troop disengagement at Depsang, towards the crucial Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) and Karakoram Pass in the north, and the Charding Ninglung Nallah (CNN) track junction at Demchok, is a requirement for the eventual de-escalation and deinduction of the more than 50,000 soldiers each forward deployed by the two armies with heavy weaponry.