Thursday, July 9, 2020

Round 2 of Ajit Doval's Talks with China.

Government sources said army patrolling in the contested Finger Area near Ladakh's Pangong Tso will resume once tensions subside. NSA Ajit Doval last held a telephonic conversation with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on Sunday.

With a mutual withdrawal in three flash point areas of Ladakh complete, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval will be leading talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for the second time in a week in efforts to scale down the tension between the two neighbours over the Line of Actual Control.

The first round of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination or WMCC on 05 Jul had triggered the disengagement which has been completed on mutually agreed on terms and now India will focus on dismantling structures, restoring ridge lines and restoring status quo ante, sources said.

With cautious optimism, we would be moving forward and would be reviewing the overall progress made on ground", a senior officer said.

According to the latest reports with the central government, the initial disengagement has been completed at Galwan, Gogra and Hot Springs areas.

Thinning out is currently in progress at the Pangong Tso Lake area.

"It was a difficult situation as we did not have anything to counter bargain. But India defended its stance and good news is China seems to have relented", a senior bureaucrat said.

The thinning out of Chinese soldiers is, however, the slowest around the fourth stand off point - the Finger Area on the north bank of Ladakh's Pangong Tso, the salt water glacial lake spread across 700 sq km, where the Chinese had reportedly set up bunkers and observation posts.

According to the government official, with no fixed border near Pangong Tso, Indian troops used to go till Finger 8 to patrol. "Patrolling has been stopped for the time being but would be restored as things cool off. We will physically verify each of our points", he added.

The Finger Area - a set of eight cliffs overlooking the lake - was one of the areas where Chinese intrusions were reported since April, dramatically raising tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

In the worst clash between the two countries in nearly half a century, troops fought for hours with rods and clubs on 15 Jun, leading to casualties on both sides, including the martyrdom of 20 Indian soldiers. 

- Neeta Sharma.


Tailpiece.

Got up on the dot, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. It was a quiet day though wet. Attended the webinar and the guest was Sri MA Baby, the member of the politburo of the CPM.

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