16th round of commander-level talks between India and China underway at Chushul-Moldo point
The 16th round of military talks between India and China began this morning. Army commanders of the two countries met on the Indian Side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at Chushul-Moldo Meeting Point.
AIR correspondent reports that focus of today’s talks is on disengagement along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh. Leh-based Fire and Fury General Officer Commanding Lieutenant General Anindya Sengupta is leading the Indian Army delegation while South Xinjiang Military District Chief Major General Yang Lin is leading the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in the talks.
This round of talks is being held after External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar’s meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, on the sidelines of the G-20 Foreign Ministers meeting in Bali.
India has been pressing for quick disengagement of troops from all the remaining friction points besides seeking resolution of issues in Depsang and Demchok for restoration of peace and tranquillity along the border in eastern Ladakh.
India may also rise concerns about the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) flying fighter jets provocatively close to Indian positions at one of the friction points at the Line of Actual Control, LAC.
There was no breakthrough in the 15th round of talks held in March between the two sides. In the meantime, ahead of the 16th round of talks, Chinese President Xi Jinping, made a four day visit this week, to the Xinjiang region and interacted with the troops and officers.
On the other hand, Tibetan Spiritual leader His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama suggested that India and China should resolve the problems through talks in a peaceful manner.
