India, China end longest border talks on positive note
India and China concluded the longest ever military talks to lower tensions on the border in Eastern Ladakh, with positive developments likely towards further confidence building measures and de-escalation.
Sources said that Major General level talks that discussed resolving of border flashpoints, depth and scope of patrolling in disputed regions and other confidence building measures took place over a record six days. The talks have been on since last Friday at two locations in eastern Ladakh — Daulat Beg Oldie and Chushul.
While there has been no official statement on what transpired in the marathon talks, sources said that the dialogue took place in a positive and constructive manner towards making progress in easing border tensions.
If required, further talks at the appropriate level may also be carried out.
On August 13-14 India and China had positive talks at the Corps Commander level to address remaining issues on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), with both sides agreeing that resolution needs to be carried out in an expeditious manner.
The main issue being discussed between the two sides is disengagement of troops at Depsang plains where India and China have been in a border standoff since 2020 with PLA troops blocking access to border patrolling points. There is also a dispute at Demchock, where at Charding Nalla tents have been pitched by so called Chinese civilians on disputed territory since 2018.
At the Major General level talks, issues discussed included modalities for resumption of patrolling in the disputed areas, the depth of patrolling by both sides and the possibility of joint patrolling by troops in the future.
Other areas that emerged as flashpoints during the 2020 crisis, including the Finger area
