News Analysis India

Tag: India-China border

  • India, China to hold 12th Corps Commander-level meet on Ladakh Standoff on Saturday

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The much-awaited 12th Corps Commander-level meeting between India and China on the Ladakh standoff will be held at 10.30 am on Saturday. The meeting will be held at Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

    “The 12th round of the Corps Commanders is to be held in Moldo tomorrow,” a source confirmed, The meeting is to start at 1030am added the source. 

    It has been more than three months since the last Senior Higher Military Commanders Level (Corps Commanders) talk was held on April 9 this year. Between May 2020 and April this year, there have been 11 such talks.

    As first reported by The New Indian Express, it was in the first week of May 2020 that the troops of the Indian Army and Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) clashed at the Finger 4 on the North bank of the Pangong Lake leading to the standoff. It further expanded to Hotspring, Gogra, Galwan, and also in Depsang and Demchok.

    ALSO READ |  De-escalation, disengagement debate in Eastern Ladakh stalls Chinese-Indian Army talks

    For the first time in the history of border dispute negotiations between India and China, the talks involved Senior Higher Military Commanders (SHCML) as otherwise Higher Military Commanders or the Division Commanders (Major Generals) were the senior-most officials meeting to resolve the disputes.

    There has been mutual disengagement at Galwan and North and South Banks of the Pangong lake.

    India and China are expected to discuss disengagement from the Hot Springs and Gogra Heights areas in eastern Ladakh, Army sources said, adding that the Indian side has made it clear that it would agree for de-escalation only if it is simultaneous and withdrawal of troops is equal. Besides this, the measures should address mutual security concerns.

    But there is a trust deficit between the two countries as the Chinese side overlooked all the agreements and Memorandum of Understandings this time. Also, there was a deadly clash at Galwan in June 2020 which led to the deaths on both sides.

  • Early completion of disengagement could pave way for de-escalation: India on eastern Ladakh

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India on Thursday reiterated that only early completion of disengagement in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh could pave the way for both Indian and Chinese troops to consider de-escalation and ensure full restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

    At a media briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said such a step could enable progress in bilateral relations between the two countries.

    “I would like to reiterate that only early completion of disengagement in the remaining areas could pave the way for the two sides to consider de-escalation of forces and ensure full restoration of peace and tranquillity and enable progress on overall bilateral relations,” he said.

    India and China held a virtual meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs last month as part of the dialogue process to resolve the standoff.

    In the meeting, the two sides agreed to hold the next round of military talks at an early date to achieve the objective of complete disengagement in remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh.

    “You would recall that the 22nd meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on the border was held on June 25. The two sides also agreed to hold the 12th round of senior commanders meeting at an early date. We will certainly share any update once we have that,” Bagchi said.

    The 11th round of Corps Commander-level talks between the two sides on the border row was held on April 9.

    India and China were locked in a military standoff at multiple friction points in eastern Ladakh since early May last year.

    However, the two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong lake in February following a series of military and diplomatic talks.

    The two sides are now engaged in talks to extend the disengagement process to the remaining friction points.

    There was no visible forward movement in disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points as the Chinese side did not show flexibility in their approach on it at the 11th round of military talks.

    Last month, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane said that there can be no de-escalation without complete disengagement at all friction points in eastern Ladakh and that the Indian Army is prepared for all contingencies in the region.

    Gen Naravane also said that India is dealing with China in a “firm” and “non-escalatory” manner to ensure the sanctity of its claims in eastern Ladakh and that it was even open to initiating confidence-building measures.

    India has been insisting on complete disengagement in remaining friction points to de-escalate the situation in eastern Ladakh.

  • Around two dozen Chinese fighter jets carry out exercise opposite Eastern Ladakh, India watches closely

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: With India and China engaged in a military standoff for more than a year now, the Chinese Air Force recently carried out a big aerial exercise from its airbases opposite Eastern Ladakh which was watched closely by the Indian side.

    “Around 21-22 of Chinese fighter aircraft mainly including the J-11s which are the Chinese copy of the Su-27 fighters and a few J-16 fighters held an exercise opposite the Indian territory in Eastern Ladakh,” defence sources told ANI.

    The exercise, which was held recently, was watched closely by the Indian side, they said.

    The Chinese fighter aircraft activities took place from its bases including the Hotan, Gar Gunsa and Kashgar airfields which have been upgraded recently to enable operations by all types of fighters along with concrete structures to hide away the presence of the number of fighters present at its different airbases, the sources said.

    The sources said the Chinese aircraft remained well within their territory during the aerial drills.The Indian fighter aircraft activity in the Ladakh area has gone up significantly since last year.

    “After the summer deployments of the Chinese troops and Air Force this year, the Indian Air Force has also been regularly deploying detachments of its fighters including the MiG-29s in Ladakh,” sources said.

    The Indian Air Force also regularly flies its most capable Rafale fighters over the Ladakh skies which have boosted the Indian capability all along the Line of Actual Control as 24 of these planes are already in the Indian inventory now.

    Sources said that even though the Chinese have withdrawn troops from the Pangong lake area, they have not moved their air defence systems including the HQ-9 and HQ-16 which can target aircraft at long ranges.

    India closely watched the activities of the Chinese Air Force including the airfields in Hotan, Gar Gunsa, Kashghar, Hopping, Dkonka Dzong, Linzhi and Pangat airbases in the Xinjiang and Tibet region.

    In the initial phase of the tension with China in the April-May timeframe, the Indian forces had seen the deployment of Su-30s and MiG-29s in the forward air bases and they had played an important role in thwarting an airspace violation bid by the Chinese aircraft in the Eastern Ladakh sector.

    The Indian Air Force has an edge over the Chinese in the Ladakh region as their fighters have to fly and take off from very high altitude bases while the Indian fleet can take off from plains and reach the mountainous region in almost no time.

    The Indian Air Force due to the speed of its assets can deploy aircraft squadrons at rapid speeds all across the country and despite limited resources, can use them very effectively. 

  • No de-escalation without complete disengagement at all friction points: Army Chief Gen Naravane on Ladakh standoff with China

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: In a clear and unambiguous message to China, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane on Friday said there can be no de-escalation without complete disengagement at all friction points in eastern Ladakh, and that the Indian Army is prepared for all contingencies in the region.

    In an exclusive interview to PTI, Gen Naravane said India is dealing with China in a “firm” and “non-escalatory” manner to ensure the sanctity of its claims in eastern Ladakh, and that it was even open to initiating confidence-building measures.

    It has been more than a year since the military standoff between the two sides erupted in eastern Ladakh on May 5, 2020 during which there were fatalities on both sides for the first time in 45 years.

    They have made limited progress in achieving disengagement at the Pangong lake area while negotiations for similar steps at other friction points remained deadlocked.

    Gen Naravane asserted that the Indian Army is currently holding onto all important areas in the high-altitude region and it has adequate personnel in the form of “reserves” to respond to any contingencies.

    “We are very clear that no de-escalation can take place before disengagement at all friction points. India and China have signed a number of border agreements which have been unilaterally breached by the People’s Liberation Army(PLA),” he said.

    “Though we want peace and tranquillity at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and are open to initiating confidence-building measures, we remain prepared for all contingencies.”

    He also said the situation along the northern border is under control and that the coming rounds of military talks with China will focus on restoring the status quo ante of April 2020.

    “Indian Army is very clear that no loss of territory or unilateral change in status quo will be permitted. We are dealing with the Chinese in a firm and non-escalatory way, ensuring the sanctity of our claims in eastern Ladakh,” he added.

    To a question on when a resolution to the standoff can be expected in areas like Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang in eastern Ladakh, the Army Chief said it was difficult to predict the timeline.

    “The Indian Army maintains all protocols and agreements between the two countries while the PLA escalated the situation by utilisation of unorthodox weapons and amassing a large number of troops,” he said, in a reference to the Galwan Valley clashes last June.

    “Troops are currently holding all important areas and we have adequate troops in the form of ‘reserves’ to react to any contingencies,” the Army Chief added.

    India-China ties came under severe strain following the deadly clashes at the Galwan valley following which both sides rushed in thousands of additional troops as well as battle tanks and other large weapons to the region.

    “The trust levels are bound to be low when a major standoff takes place between two countries leading to casualties on both sides. However, it is always our endeavour that this trust deficit should not hinder the negotiation process,” Gen Naravane said.

    “As two professional armies, it is imperative that we resolve the situation and make progress to restore trust at the earliest.”

    Asked about the possibility of any escalation of tension in the region, Gen Naravane said there has been no infringement by the Chinese side following the agreement on the disengagement in the Pangong lake area and that chances of any untoward incident is low.

    He also said the strength of troops on both sides at present are more or less what it was last year and that the Indian Army was aware of what is happening in the region, adding “you cannot be complacent”.

    The Chief of Army Staff said the training areas of the PLA located in depth areas at a distance of around 1,000 km from the LAC are also being looked at.

    Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the sensitive sector.

    Gen Naravane said the process for the next round of military talks was underway.

    At the same time, he added, “we should not expect result from every round of talks.”

    Asked about China building villages near the LAC in the Arunachal Pradesh sector as well along its border with Bhutan, Gen Naravane said it is possibly part of a plan to have more population in the areas along with infrastructure development.

    “They (China) are building the villages on their side. Additional infrastructure is also being developed to cater to the increasing population,” he said.

    He said India has also been developing infrastructure along the LAC that included habitat, water supply and electrification.

    Nine months after the military standoff at multiple friction points, both sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of the Pangong lake in February as part of an agreement reached following a series of military and diplomatic talks.

    The two sides have held 11 rounds of military talks with an aim to ensure disengagement and de-escalation at the friction points.

    Both the militaries are now engaged in talks to extend the disengagement process to the remaining friction points.

    There was no visible forward movement in disengagement of troops at the remaining friction points as the Chinese side did not show flexibility in their approach at the last round of talks on April 9.

    The Chinese military is currently conducting a drill at its training areas near the Ladakh region.

  • Army chief MM Naravane reviews situation along northern border in Arunachal Pradesh

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Army Chief Gen MM Naravane reviewed India’s operational readiness along the border with China in the Arunachal Pradesh sector during a two-day visit to the Northeastern region that began on Thursday.

    His visit to the region came amid the Indian Army’s continued standoff with the Chinese military in some of the friction points in eastern Ladakh.

    Officials said Gen Naravane arrived at Dimapur in Nagaland on Thursday to review the operational readiness along the Northern borders of Arunachal Pradesh and the security situation in the hinterland in the Northeastern region.

    “On arrival at the Corps headquarters in Dimapur, the Army Chief was briefed by Lt Gen Johnson Mathew, General Officer Commanding of Spear Corps and the Division Commanders on the prevailing situation and operational preparedness along the Northern borders,” the Army said.

    It said the Chief of Army Staff complimented all ranks for maintaining excellent vigil and exhorted them to stay alert and keep watch on activities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

    On Wednesday, Gen Naravane said that the Army will maintain an enhanced presence on the entire northern front from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh till “de-escalation” is achieved.

    In view of the border row with China in eastern Ladakh, the Army last year significantly ramped up deployment of troops in all sensitive areas along the nearly 3,500-km-long LAC including in the Sikkim and Arunachal sectors The Indian Air Force(IAF) also deployed additional fighter jets and attack helicopters in key bases looking after the airspace along the LAC in the Arunachal sector.

    India and China were locked in a military standoff at multiple friction points in eastern Ladakh since early May last year but they have completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong lake in February following a series of military and diplomatic talks.

    The two sides are now engaged in talks to extend the disengagement process to the remaining friction points.

    There was no visible forward movement in disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points as the Chinese side did not show flexibility in their approach on it at the 11th round of military talks with the Indian Army on April 9.

  • Uttarakhand avalanche: Another body recovered, toll rises to 17

    By PTI
    GOPESHWAR: The death toll from the recent avalanche in Sumna, near the India-China border in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, rose to 17 on Thursday with the recovery of one more body.

    The body was recovered from the avalanche site on Thursday, District Magistrate Swati S Bhadauria said.

    One body was recovered on Wednesday as well.

    Both the bodies have been brought to the community health centre (CHC) in Joshimath for autopsy, she said.

    Fifteen bodies were recovered from the site till Sunday.

    All the victims were Border Roads Organisation (BRO) workers from Jharkhand, who went missing after the avalanche struck on Friday.

    The DM said the 15 bodies have been sent back to Jharkhand where they will be handed over to the families.

    Search and rescue operations continue at the site, she said.

  • India, China have agreed to establish hotline between foreign ministers: S Jaishankar

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI/BEIJING: India has told China that disengagement at all friction points is necessary to contemplate de-escalation of troops in eastern Ladakh even as the foreign ministers of the two countries agreed to establish a hotline for “timely” communication and exchange of views.

    In the first high level contact after the two countries agreed early this month to disengage from the Pangong Tso area in eastern Ladakh, External Affairs minister S Jaishankar told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during a telephonic conversation on Thursday that peace and tranquillity on the border is essential for development of bilateral relations.

    The armies of the two sides last week concluded withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of the Pangong lake.

    Releasing details of the 75-minute conversation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Friday that China was told that bilateral relations have been impacted severely over last year.

    The tense military standoff in eastern Ladakh erupted on May 5 last. The two leaders discussed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh and issues related to overall India-China relations.

    “EAM said that Boundary Question may take time to resolve but disturbance of peace and tranquillity, including by violence, will inevitably have a damaging impact on the relationship,” the MEA said.

    “The two ministers agreed to remain in touch and establish a hotline. A prolongation of the existing situation was not in the interest of either side. It was, therefore, necessary that the two sides should work towards early resolution of remaining issues. It was necessary to disengage at all friction points in order to contemplate de-escalation of forces in this sector. That alone will lead to the restoration of peace and tranquillity and provide conditions for progress of our bilateral relationship,” the MEA statement said.

    According to a late-night press release issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing on Thursday, the two foreign ministers agreed to set up a hotline for “timely communication and exchange of views”.

    Wang said that China and India should firmly follow the right path of mutual trust and cooperation between neighbouring major countries, and not go astray with suspicion and distrust nor fall back on a road of “negative retrogression”.

    Wang, also a State Councilor, noted that the two countries need to properly handle the border issue so as to prevent the bilateral ties from being trapped into a “vicious cycle” because of it.

    ALSO READ: Disengagement win-win situation for India and China: Army chief Gen MM Naravane

    When asked for an update on disengagement of troops in other areas after the withdrawal of soldiers by both sides from the Pangong lake area, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing on Friday that the situation on the ground has significantly eased.

    “Recently frontline troops of both sides completed disengagement in the Pangong Lake area and the situation on the ground has significantly eased. The two sides should cherish this hard-won momentum and consolidate existing outcomes, maintain the momentum for consultations, further ease the situation, improve border management and control mechanism, advance negotiation on the boundary issue to accumulate mutual trust and safeguard peace and tranquillity along the border,” he said.

    Asked when the two countries would set up a hotline for the foreign ministers, the spokesman said the two sides will remain in communication on the matter.

    The MEA statement said Jaishankar also referred to his meeting with Wang Yi in September 2020 in Moscow where the Indian side had expressed its concern on provocative behaviour and unilateral attempts of the Chinese side to alter the status quo at the LAC.

    ALSO READ: Accepting casualties in Galwan Valley clash, China blames India for face-off in June 2020

    Jaishankar said they had agreed that the situation in the border areas was not in the interest of either side and decided that the border troops of both sides should continue their dialogue, quickly disengage and ease tensions.

    The EAM noted that the two sides had maintained continuous communication since then through both diplomatic and military channels. This had led to progress as both sides had successfully disengaged in the Pangong lake area earlier this month.

    Noting the completion of disengagement in the Pangong lake area, the EAM emphasized that both sides should now quickly resolve the remaining issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.

    At the 10th round of the senior commanders’ meeting least week, India is learnt to have insisted on a faster disengagement process in areas such as Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang to defuse tension in the region.

    Jaishankar told Wang that once disengagement is completed at all friction points, then the two sides could also look at broader de-escalation of troops in the area and work towards restoration of peace and tranquillity.

    READ EDITORIAL: China’s curious admission of Galwan casualties

    Wang, on his part, expressed satisfaction at the progress made so far and said it was an important step forward for restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas, according to the MEA statement.

    Wang also spoke about the need to improve management and control in the border areas, while Jaishankar highlighted that both sides had always agreed that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas was essential basis for development of bilateral relations.

    Wang also noted that the Indian side had proposed “three mutuals” — mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests — as the approach to the relationship. He also agreed on the importance of taking the long view of ties between the two neighbours.

    According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry release, Wang also said border disputes are an “objective reality” and need to be attached adequate attention and taken seriously. He said that the border issue is not the whole story of China-India relations, and should be placed in a proper position in their relationship. “Wang said that the rights and wrongs of last year’s situation in China-India border areas are very clear, and profound lessons should be drawn from the past,” the Chinese foreign ministry statement said.

    ALSO READ: Uphill task for India in other Ladakh sectors

    The border standoff between the Indian and Chinese armies erupted on May 5 last year following a violent clash in the Pangong Lake area and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.

    Subsequently, 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a fierce hand-to-hand combat on June 15 in Galwan Valley, an incident that marked the most serious military conflicts between the two sides in over four decades. Eight months after the confrontation, China admitted that its four soldiers were killed in the fight.

  • India-China military talks last for around 16 hours

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India and China held extensive deliberations on expanding the disengagement process in eastern Ladakh at the 10th round of the military talks that lasted for around 16 hours, official sources said on Sunday.

    The Corps Commander-level talks at the Moldo border point on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control began at around 10 am on Saturday and ended at 2 am on Sunday, they said.

    The sources said the focus of the talks was to take forward the disengagement process in friction points like Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang in eastern Ladakh.

    However, there was no official word on the talks so far.

    The talks took place two days after both militaries concluded withdrawal of troops and weapons from North and South banks of Pangong Tso in the high-altitude region.

    In the talks, India is learnt to have insisted on a faster disengagement process in areas like Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang to bring down tension in the region.

    On Saturday evening, sources had said that bringing down the tension in the region was the broad priority of the talks.

    ALSO READ: Uphill task for India in other Ladakh sectors

    India has all along been maintaining that disengagement at all the friction points was necessary to de-escalate the situation in the region.

    On February 11, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced in Parliament that India and China reached an agreement on disengagement in the North and South banks of Pangong lake that mandates both sides to “cease” forward deployment of troops in a “phased, coordinated and verifiable” manner.

    Under the agreement, he said China will pull back its troops to east of Finger 8 areas in the northern bank of Pangong lake while the Indian personnel will be based at their permanent base at Dhan Singh Thapa Post near Finger 3 in the region.

    ALSO READ: After months of denial, China accepts its four soldiers were killed in Galwan Valley clash; releases video

    Similar action would take place on the south bank of the lake as well, he said.

    The sources said troops of both sides have retreated to positions in line with the agreement.

    The disengagement process began on February 10.

    The Indian delegation at Saturday’s talks was led by Lt Gen PGK Menon, the Commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps.

    In his statement in Parliament, the defence minister also said that it was agreed to convene the next meeting of senior commanders of both sides within 48 hours of completion of the disengagement in the Pangong lake areas so as to resolve all other remaining issues.

    ALSO READ: Artillery Guns moved back, bunkers brought down by PLA

    Days later, the defence ministry said other outstanding “problems” including in Depsang, Hot Springs and Gogra will be taken up at the upcoming talks between military commanders of the two countries.

    The border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5 following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry even as the two sides continued military and diplomatic talks.

    Last year, the Chinese military built several bunkers and other structures in the areas between Finger 4 and 8 and had blocked all Indian patrols beyond Finger 4, triggering strong reaction from the Indian Army.

    In the nine rounds of military talks, India had specifically insisted on withdrawal of Chinese troops from Finger 4 to Finger 8 on the North bank of Pangong Lake.

    The mountain spurs in the area are referred to as Fingers.

    On its part, the Chinese side was insisting on withdrawal of Indian troops from several strategic peaks on the southern bank of the lake.

    Around five months back, Indian troops occupied a number of strategic heights in the Mukhpari, Rechin La and Magar hill areas around the southern bank after the Chinese PLA attempted to intimidate them in the area.

  • Uphill task for India in other Ladakh sectors

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  At a time when disengagement of PLA and Indian Army along the Pangong Tso is complete,  former army officers advised caution instead of trusting blindly agreements with China.

    These officers believe China has pushed in a lot of force and equipment to convey a message and the trickier phase begins now, as India has to handle negotiations with maturity and pragmatism.

    Lt Gen HS Panag (Retd), a former Northern Army Commander, said China is forcing others to accept it is the domineering power in Asia. Also, because they felt threatened by the development of infrastructure on the Indian side, India may plan action from the Aksai Chin side.

    ALSO READ: After months of denial, China accepts its four soldiers were killed in Galwan Valley clash; releases video

    “By developing the Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldi (DSDBO) highway, we were building lateral routes towards the LAC,” said Lt Gen Panag.

    Adding that the Chinese were farsighted in persisting with the 1959 claim line, as it keeps them in an advantageous position, Lt Gen Panag said: “They chose the LAC in such a way that their positions are at the points of advantage and can dominate in future.”

    ALSO READ: Artillery Guns moved back, bunkers brought down by PLA

    The PLA has denied India access to the patrolling points in Y Junction in Depsang. It has also blocked additional movement towards Hot Spring. Lt Gen DS Hooda (Retd), another former Northern Army Commander, identifies Depsang as the trickiest point.

    “Both sides have their claims in this area and this will take a lot of negotiations.”

    Sub Sector North, of which Depsang is a part, is strategically most important. The terrain is such that large-scale armour operations is possible. China has multiple roads feeding this area while India has only the DSDBO road. By sitting at the Y Junction, China can obstruct India’s movement.

    ALSO READ: Relationship with China cannot be normal without peace in border areas, says Harsh Vardhan Shringla

    Depsang is also a link towards Siachen and the DBO airfield. Indian Army occupying the Kailash Range has been an important turning point, feels Lt gen Hooda and Lt Gen KJS Pannu, a former 14 Corps Commander.

    They say China did not expect India to do that. Calling the disengagement Pangong Tso-centric,  Lt Gen Pannu feels China cannot be trusted.

    “What guarantee can we have when China breached all five agreements signed since 1993. They may go back, re-strategize, replan, retrain, reequip, lull us into complacency and surprise us.”

    ALSO READ: China says disengagement of Chinese, Indian troops in eastern Ladakh going on smoothly

    By all estimates, this is going to be a long affair. It’s time to be ready and arm, train and equip our soldiers to deal with surprises in the future. 

    Power points of  East Ladakh

    PPs are patrolling points identified and marked on the LAC where regular patrolling is done to assert the physical claim about the LAC

    As per general estimates, G 219 (Tibet- Xinjiang Highway) is at a distance of less than 4 hours from Depsang 

    The average altitude ranges from 14,000 ft to 18,000ft. There are valleys and plains which allow fast movement of vehicles

    Y Junction

    About 20kms from strategic airfield Daulat Beg Oldi. PLA blocking around 100 sq kms in this area as India is unable to patrol points 10, 11, 11A, 12 & 13 (avg distance between points 10-15 kms)

    Galwan

    Indian Army went around 80 kms inside in 1962. This time, PLA is blocking Indian Army on LAC, going by the 1959 claim line. Disengagement took place after the June 15 clashes

    Hot spring & Gogra

    Occupied by PLA to create pressure on Indian Army and have an edge during negotiations

    Finger 4

    Strategically important. Movement towards rest of the Fingers & another route to Galwan blocked by PLA at this point

  • India has not conceded any territory in disengagement agreement with China in Pangong Tso: MoD

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The government on Friday emphatically stated that India has not “conceded” any territory following the disengagement agreement with China in Pangong lake areas in eastern Ladakh as political sparks flew thick and fast over the pullback process.

    Hours after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government has “ceded” Indian territory to China and raised questions over the agreement, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) as well as the BJP came out with a hard-hitting response.

    A MoD statement said that on the contrary India has enforced observance and respect for the Line of Actual Control(LAC) and prevented any unilateral change in the status quo.

    It said those who doubt the achievements made possible by the sacrifices of the country’s military personnel are actually disrespecting them while BJP president J P Nadda asserted that Gandhi’s claim was an “insult” to the armed forces who are leading the disengagement strategy.

    ALSO READ: Disengagement process on in Pangong Tso areas – Sources

    Nadda also wondered why Gandhi was bent upon making a false claim that the disengagement is a “loss’ for India, and asked is it a part of “INC-China MoU”.

    The BJP chief took a jibe at Gandhi saying there is a new edition of “Congress circus” today and it is again due to the Congress leader.

    The war of words erupted a day after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced in Parliament that India and China have reached an agreement on disengagement in the North and South banks of Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh that mandates both sides to “cease” forward deployment of troops in a “phased, coordinated and verifiable” manner.

    The agreement signalled a breakthrough in defusing the nine-month border standoff in Ladakh.

    In the statement countering Gandhi’s claims, the MoD said the assertion that Indian territory is up to Finger 4 in the northern bank of Pangong lake is categorically false, adding the permanent posts of both sides in the area are “longstanding and well-established”.

    ALSO READ: Rahul attacks govt on LAC disengagement with China, alleges PM ‘ceded’ Indian territory; MoD denies

    The mountain spurs in the region are referred to as Fingers.

    “Even the Line of Actual Control (LAC), as per the Indian perception, is at Finger 8, not at Finger 4. That is why India has persistently maintained the right to patrol upto Finger 8, including in the current understanding with China.”

    The MoD further said the territory of India is as depicted in the map of India and includes more than 43,000 sq km currently under illegal occupation of China since 1962.

    “India has not conceded any territory as a result of the agreement. On the contrary, it has enforced observance and respect for LAC and prevented any unilateral change in the status quo,” it added.

    The ministry also asserted that permanent posts of both sides at the north bank of Pangong Tso are longstanding and well-established.

    “On the Indian side, it is Dhan Singh Thapa Post near Finger 3 and on the Chinese side, east of Finger 8,” the MoD said, adding the current agreement provides for cessation of forward deployment by both sides and continued deployment at these permanent posts.

    ALSO READ: US welcomes efforts by India and China to de-escalate situation in eastern Ladakh

    In his statement giving details of the agreement, Defence Minister Singh had said China will pull back its troops to east of Finger 8 areas in the northern bank of Pangong lake while the Indian personnel will be based at their permanent base at Dhan Singh Thapa Post near Finger 3 in the region.

    Singh had also assured Parliament that India has not conceded anything in the sustained talks with China and it will not allow even an inch of its territory to be taken away by anyone.

    The MoD statement said it has taken note of some “misinformed and misleading” comments being amplified in the media and on social media regarding the disengagement currently underway at Pangong Tso, asserting it is necessary to set the record straight and counter certain instances of wrongly understood information.

    It further said the defence minister’s statement also made clear that there are outstanding issues to be addressed, including at Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang, adding they are to be taken up within 48 hours of the completion of the Pangong Tso disengagement.

    Addressing a press conference, Rahul Gandhi questioned why the Prime Minister did not make a statement on the LAC situation, and said Singh “sheepishly” made a statement on the issue in both Houses of Parliament.

    “The Prime Minister should say – I have given Indian land to China, this is the truth,” he said targeting Modi.

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    He said it has emerged that Indian troops are now going to be stationed at Finger 3 at Pangong Tso lake.

    “Finger-4 is our territory, that is where our post used to be. So, now we have moved from Finger-4 to Finger-3.

    Why has Prime Minister Modi given up Indian Territory to the Chinese? This is the question that needs to be answered by him and by the Defence Minister,” Gandhi said.

    He asked why have Indian troops, after the hard work that they had done in capturing Kailash ranges been asked to move back.

    “What has India got in return for this? Most importantly, the more important strategic area, Depsang plains, why have the Chinese not moved back? These are the real questions. Why have they not moved from Gogra-Hot Springs”.

    Gandhi said it is the responsibility of the prime minister to protect the territory of the country.

    “GOI must explain – Why our forces are withdrawing from dominant positions in Kailash Ranges? Why we are ceding our territory & withdrawing from forward base at Finger 4 to Finger 3? Why has China not withdrawn from our territory in Depsang Plains & Gogra-Hot Springs,” he asked in a tweet.

    Asked at the news conference if India will lose its strategic advantage once status quo ante is restored, Gandhi said there was no strategic advantage as the Chinese were on our land in Depsang and Pangong.

    “Our soldiers risked everything, they had, to go to Kailash ranges. That’s where the strategic advantage, if any, arose. Now, the prime minister has given back the land. Status quo ante is irrelevant. Kailash has been given back and nothing has happened on the key area of which China wants, Depsang plains.”

    “This is absolute 100 per cent cowardice. This is nothing else. The prime minister is a coward who cannot stand up to the Chinese…He is betraying the sacrifice of our army,” he charged.

    In a statement, Congress’s chief spokesperson Rained Surjewala claimed that Singh’s address and the Defence Ministry’s statement “completely omit” the fact that the Government has agreed to withdraw Indian armed forces from dominant positions in Kailash ranges (southern Bank, Pangong Tso Lake Area), where the Chinese are at a disadvantage, without any quid pro quo by China.

    Hitting back, Union minister Pralhad Joshi accused Gandhi of “lying left, right and centre” and denigrating the country’s security forces.

    BJP general secretary C T Ravi also targeted the Congress leader.

    “I am glad that the Congress has finally realised that PM Nehru created a ‘Himalayan Blunder’ by gifting 38,000 sq km land to China. Will it also question its co-owner, the coward Rahul Gandhi for making baseless allegations against PM Modi?”.