The ninth round of Corps Commander-level talks between India and China began today, with a focus on ways to move forward on the long-negotiated disengagement process in eastern Ladakh, according to official sources. The military talks were held at the Moldo border point on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. The eighth and last round of military talks took place on November 6 during which both sides broadly discussed the disengagement of troops from specific friction points.
On January 12, Army chief Gen MM Naravane had said that Indian troops will hold their ground as long as it takes to achieve the “national goals and objectives” even as he hoped for an amicable resolution of the prolonged standoff through talks. The standoff erupted on May 5 last.
Nearly 50,000 troops of the Indian Army are deployed in a high state of combat readiness in various mountainous locations in eastern Ladakh in sub-zero temperatures as multiple rounds of talks between the two sides have not yielded concrete outcome to resolve the standoff.
The pact included measures like quick disengagement of troops, avoiding action that could escalate tensions, adherence to all agreements and protocols on border management and steps to restore peace along the LAC.