SRINAGAR: After more than 14-hours of talks between the top Generals of the Chinese and Indian army, a joint statement said the two sides have agreed to stop sending more troops to the frontline in Ladakh. Both sides have committed to safeguarding peace and tranquillity in the border belts falling in extremely harsh climatic conditions.
PHOTO BY BILAL BAHADUR
The two corps commanders from either side have been meeting quite frequently since May and certain decisions were taken in the sixth round of talks on Monday that continued for 14 hours.
“The two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on stabilising the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the India-China border areas,” media reports quoting the joint statement released by the Indian Army said. “They agreed to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen communication on the ground, avoid misunderstandings and misjudgements, stop sending more troops to the frontline, refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground, and avoid taking any actions that may complicate the situation.”
Now the two sides are making preparations for the seventh round of talks between the two top officers who armies are engaged in an eyeball to eyeball confrontation over inhospitable Ladakh heights. There have been three instances of armies opening warning fires but both sides have avoided using the weapons.
China has also issued a statement on similar lines. “Both sides agree to stop sending more troops to the frontline and refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground,” China’s National Defense Ministry was quoted telling Global Times. “[India and China] will avoid taking any actions that may complicate the situation.”
