India and China will hold the 13th round of Corps Commander-level talks today to try and resolve the military standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
The 13th round of talks between corps commanders, to begin at 10.30 am, will be held at Moldo on the Chinese side of the LAC, said one of the officials. “Problems at Hot Springs, or Patrol Point-15, are likely to be discussed during the talks,” said a second official. “We are hopeful of positive outcomes that will take the disengagement process forward.” Both officials declined to be named.
The Indian Express reported that Lieutenant General PGK Menon, Commander of XIV Corps, will be representing the Indian delegation.
News agency ANI reported that the resolution of friction point at Hot Springs will also be discussed during the talks.
Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday, in a media briefing, had said that it expected China to work towards early resolution of the remaining issue along the LAC in eastern Ladakh by fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols.
Soldiers of India and China clashed last year resulting in the loss of several lives on both sides. The clashes erupted after the transgression by Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in Galwan Valley. More than a year had passed since the incident, but tensions continue to simmer between the two Asian giants.
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Indian Army Chief General MM Naravne on Saturday said that the military build-up by China in eastern Ladakh and the new infrastructure development on their side to sustain large-scale deployment are a matter of concern for India.
He said that if the Chinese military maintains the deployment for a second winter on the trot, it could lead to a LoC-like situation (Line of Control).
More than 12 rounds of military talks and a series of diplomatic parleys were held between India and China, but the tensions still continue.
As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in the Gogra area in August.
In February, the two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the north and south banks of the Pangong lake in line with an agreement on disengagement.
Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the sensitive sector.
(With inputs from ANI)
