News Analysis India

Tag: India-China standoff

  • Disengagement in Pangong Lake step forward for resolution of other issues: Sino-India joint statement

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The disengagement of troops in Pangong Lake area in Eastern Ladakh is a significant step forward for resolution of other remaining issues along the LAC in the western sector, India and China said in a joint statement on Sunday after their 10th round of military talks.

    The two sides also agreed to follow the important consensus of their state leaders, continue their communication and dialogue, stabilise and control the situation on the ground and push for a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues in a steady and orderly manner so as to jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas.

    The statement came after the nearly 16-hour-long Corps Commander-level talks at the Moldo border point on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control that began at around 10 AM on Saturday and ended at 2 AM on Sunday.

    “The two sides positively appraised the smooth completion of disengagement of frontline troops in the Pangong Lake area noting that it was a significant step forward that provided a good basis for resolution of other remaining issues along the LAC in the western sector,” the joint statement said.

    “They had candid and in-depth exchange of views on other issues along the LAC in the western sector,” it added.

    The talks took place two days after both the militaries concluded the 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.

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

    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.

  • India-China disengagement process in eastern Ladakh complete, says Rajnath Singh

    By PTI
    SALEM: The disengagement process by India and China in eastern Ladakh is ‘complete’ after nine rounds of diplomatic and military level talks between the two neighbours, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said here on Sunday as he hit out at Congress for ‘doubting’ Indian soldiers’ bravery.

    He also lashed out at the Congress and its southern ally DMK for ‘creating a controversy’ over the Indo-French Rafale fighter jet deal and said the CAG among others had given ‘clean chit’.

    It had blunted the opposition criticism that “chowkidar chor hai” (the watchman is thief), a barb aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and rather proved “chowkidar is pure hai,” he asserted.

    Addressing a state conference of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha in this town in western Tamil Nadu ahead of the assembly polls likely in the next two months,, he pitched strongly for the BJP-AIADMK alliance.

    The pair of “lotus and two leaves” alone can bring prosperity to the state, he said, alluding to the respective poll symbols of the BJP and the AIADMK.

    Speaking about the border stand-off, the Defence Minister said after nine rounds of diplomatic and military level talks between India and China, a solution had been found, referring to the mutually agreed disengagement process in eastern Ladakh.

    Troops and weapons have been withdrawn from the north and south banks of Pangong lake in that area.

    “After nine rounds of military and diplomatic dialogue, the disengagement process is complete. But unfortunately the Congress is doubting Indian army’s bravery. Isn’t it insulting to the soldiers who do the supreme sacrifice,” he said.

    Twenty Indian army personnel were killed in the Galwan clash with the Chinese troops last year during the face-off.

    India will not allow any country to take “unilateral action” on its border and it will pay any cost to thwart such attempts, Singh asserted.

    However, the Congress claimed that India had lost territory to its eastern neighbour and tried “defame us”, he said.

    “Till there is blood and life in this body, nobody can capture an inch of India’s land,” the Defence minister said.

    The government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi “has never compromised with country’s unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty” and it shall never do so, he declared.

    On the Rafale deal, he said Congress and DMK tried to stir up a controversy, apparently referring to the pricing, but said the CAG and courts gave clean chit to the government.

    This showed that the opposition criticism of Modi, with the refrain “chowkidar chor hai” (the guard is the thief) was blunted and it was proved “chowkidar pure hai” (guard is pure), the Defence Minister added.

    The IAF’s capability has enhanced with the induction of the state-of-the-art fighter in its arsenal and it can now face any country, he said.

    Hailing Modi’s handling of COVID-19 as an “incredible and inspiring story”, he said India not only succeeded in managing the pandemic but achieved its ‘Make in India’ goals in developing a vaccine against the contagion.

    It also shared the vaccines with other countries in the spirit of ‘Vasudeiva kudumbakam,’ meaning the world is one family.

    While COVID-19 impacted the economy, Modi had ensured due efforts to give impetus to growth, including rural economy, and the predictions showed the country touching double digit growth in 2021-22, he said.

    Foreign investment was increasing day-by-day and the stock market had been ‘jumping.’

    The bourses were not just jumping but ‘doing jallikattu’ (Tamil Nadu’s famed bull taming sport), he said apparently referring to the bullish sentiments in the markets.

    He also pointed out at the PM’s ‘resolve’ to double farmers’ income and therefore special focus by Modi was being shown in this direction, he said.

    The minister also highlighted various initiatives of the Centre in different sectors like drinking water and infrastructure.

    Also, corruption has been eliminated to a certain extent and unlike former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi’s statement that only 13 paise of Re 1 from government reached the common man, now the entire 100 paise was put into the people’s account, the senior BJP leader said.

    He also pointed out at various welfare initiatives for Tamil Nadu by the Centre, including an AIIMS in Madurai and increased financial allocation.

    The NDA government worked by the ideals professed in Tamil treatise Tirukkural, he said.

    On the Sri Lankan Tamils front, he recalled Modi’s 2015 visit to Jaffna, the first by an Indian prime minister, to hand over houses built by India to Tamil population and reiterated the Centre’s commitment for the well being of fishermen from Tamil Nadu.

    Taking on the Congress and DMK, he described them as “strange bedfellows” whose common thread was “love of appeasement”.

    “They are marrying each other but they have no chemistry. Someone said DMK feels Congress is a burden. The only common thread between the two is the love of appeasement,” he said.

    “Congress and DMK model is based on corruption and appeasement. Their model of appeasement politics will weaken Tamil Nadu’s social fabric,” he said.

    The BJP stood for justice for all and appeasement of none.

    The party’s ‘successful’ “Vetrivel Yatra” in the state has shaken the DMK and Congress, he claimed, and expressed confidence the people will reject the combine.

    “They like the combination of Lotus and Two Leaves. Only Lotus and Two Leaves can bring prosperity” to the state, he added.

    BJYM chief and Lok Sabha MP from Karnataka, Tejasvi Surya, also lashed out at the DMK, calling it “anti-Tamil”.

  • 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

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

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Eight months after the violent face-off with Indian troops in Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control, China for the first time accepted suffering four casualties.

    They continue to hold India responsible for the confrontation though. Beijing honoured five PLA soldiers — four dead and one injured — for bravery in ‘battle’ with Indian troops.

    The People’s Daily released the names of the four killed — Chen Hongjun, Chen Xiangrong, Xiao Siyuan and Wang Zhuoran.

    This admission comes days after Russian news agency TASS said at least 45 Chinese soldiers had died in the June 15 clash. India had announced immediately that it had lost 20 of its soldiers, including Colonel G Santosh Babu.

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

    “The report has been revealed to give the truth to the public because the truth is long awaited and it is necessary for the people to know the true story,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

    Hua said India is an important neighbour and restoring a healthy and stable relationship is in the interest of the two countries.

    “I hope the Indian side will work with us towards achieving this shared goal.”

    The face-off between Indian and PLA troops came after Indian soldiers were prevented from reaching their patrolling points.

    Chinese state media has released a video of the June 15 #GalwanValley clash which shows chinese troops gwtting injured @NewIndianXpress @TheMornStandard pic.twitter.com/ICdwxf69ws
    — Pushkar Banakar (@PushkarBanakar) February 19, 2021

    Though there was no firing reported in accordance with the agreement signed by the two sides, Chinese troops used rods studded with nails and barbed wire to attack Indian soldiers.

    Also, the admission of casualties came on a day when the disengagement process on the banks of Pangong Lake was completed, with the Chinese defence and foreign ministries continuing to blame India.

    “China has exercised great restraint, reflecting China’s tolerance and commitment as a responsible power. However, the Indian side has repeatedly exaggerated and hyped the casualties, distorting the truth and misleading international public opinion,” the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement.

    Chinese defence ministry spokesperson Ren Guoqiang said Indian troops had been crossing LAC since June.

    “They even attacked Chinese officers and soldiers who went there for negotiation, thus intentionally triggering physical conflict at Galwan Valley and causing casualties on both sides.

  • India, China disengagement completed; 10th round of commander-level talks to be held on Saturday

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The Corps Commanders of India and China are scheduled to meet on Saturday for the 10th round of talks, indicating that the disengagement of troops from the northern and southern banks of the Pangong Tso is complete. 

    Confirming the development, a senior Army officer said, “The meeting is scheduled to be held in Moldo and is expected to start at 10 am.” 

    The ninth round of the meeting was also held in Moldo on January 24th. Moldo is on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control across the Indian Chushul sector in eastern Ladakh.

    The Indian side will be led by Lt Gen PGK Menon, 14 Corps Commander and the Chinese side will be headed by Maj Gen Lin Liu, Commander of South Xinjian Military District.

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

    Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had announced in the Parliament that the 10th round of talks was to be held within 48 hours of the disengagement being completed on the North and South banks of Pangong Tso. An agreement was reached between India and China as per which Chinese troops were to relocate to the east of Finger 8 and the Indian Army will be based at Dhan Singh Thapa post close to Finger 4 on the north bank of the lake.

    The Indian Army had confirmed that both sides had moved back their armoured vehicles which were as close as 50 metres from each other at some places. Also, the two sides have brought down the fortifications and defences made during the stand-off.

    As The New Indian Express reported, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army has moved back its artillery guns and brought down structures from the North Bank of the Pangong Tso.

    The major announcement of an agreement on disengagement of the forces from standoff position at the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh came on February 11 as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced the development in the Rajya Sabha.

    Indian and Chinese military began disengagement at Pangong on February 10 and it is being done in a “phased, coordinated and verified manner” restoring the situation that was before the commencement of standoff last year, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had informed the Upper House.

    Addressing the members, Singh had said that the Chinese side will keep their troop presence in the North Bank area to the east of Finger 8. Reciprocally, the Indian troops will be based at their permanent base at Dhan Singh Thapa Post near Finger3.

    Similar action would be taken in the South Bank area by both sides, he said. Landforms have to be restored to April 2020 position.

    Talking about the details of the agreements with China, the Defence Minister said, “It has also been agreed to have a temporary moratorium on military activities by both sides in the North Bank, including patrolling to the traditional areas. Patrolling will be resumed only when both sides reach an agreement in diplomatic and military talks that would be held subsequently.”

    The standoff remains at Depsang, Gogra, Hotspring, and in the Charding Ninglung Nallah (CNN) track junction in the Demchok sector. 

    The standoff in the Eastern Ladakh started in the first week of May month last year from Finger 4 as the Chinese and Indian troops had clashed. Subsequently, it had spread to several standoff points along the LAC in the North and South banks of the Pangong Tso.

    Apart from the Finger Areas in the North Bank, Gogra-Hot Spring, Galwan, Depsang have been the other sites of standoff and Chushul Sector in the South Bank side of the Pangong lake.

    On Thursday, China had said that the disengagement process of the PLA and Indian frontline troops at the eastern Ladakh border was progressing smoothly and expressed hope that both sides will make concerted efforts to achieve the goal.

    Earlier on Friday morning, China, for the first time, admitted to casualties during the Galwan Valley clash with Indian troops. “Chen Hongjun, Chen Xiangrong, Xiao Siyuan and Wang Zhuoran died in a fierce struggle against foreign troops that violated an agreement and crossed into the Chinese side,” a report in the CCP mouthpiece The Global Times said.

  • Pangong Tso disengagement: Artillery Guns moved back, bunkers brought down by PLA

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The Chinese People’s Liberation Army has moved back the Artillery Guns and has brought down structures from the North Bank of the Pangong Tso. Indian  Army officers are optimistic that the disengagement process is expected to get completed by June 20. 

    “The structures like the bunkers and shades have been dismantled and the Artillery Guns have been moved east of Finger 8. Also, the posts created on the South Bank have been removed and the armoured vehicles (Tanks and the Infantry Combat Vehicle) have been moved back”, told a senior Army officer. It is a phased disengagement beginning with the armoured vehicles, artillery and Infantry soldiers to be moved in the last phase.

    Evincing hopes the officer said that the process is continuing from both sides and we are expecting that the process will get completed by February 20.

    The major announcement of an agreement on disengagement of the forces from standoff position at the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh came on February 11 as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced the development in the Rajya Sabha.

    Indian and Chinese military began disengagement at Pangong on February 10 and it is being done in a “phased, coordinated and verified manner” restoring the situation that was before the commencement of standoff last year, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Upper House.

    Addressing the members Rajnath Singh said, “The Chinese side will keep its troop presence in the North Bank area to the east of Finger 8. Reciprocally, the Indian troops will be based at their permanent base at Dhan Singh Thapa Post near Finger 3.” A similar action would be taken in the South Bank area by both sides, he said. Landforms have to be restored to April 2020 position.

    Talking about the details of the agreements with China Defence Minister said, “It has also been agreed to have a temporary moratorium on military activities by both sides in the North Bank, including patrolling to the traditional areas. Patrolling will be resumed only when both sides reach an agreement in diplomatic and military talks that would be held subsequently.”

    Deployment and patrolling at other standoff points will be discussed subsequently.

    The standoff in the Eastern Ladakh started in the first week of May month last year from Finger 4 as the Chinese and Indian troops had clashed. Subsequently it had spread to several standoff points along the LAC ahead of the LAC in the North and South banks of the Pangong Tso.

    Apart from the Finger Areas in the North Bank, Gogra-Hot Spring, Galwan, Depsang have been the other sites of standoff and Chushul Sector in the South Bank side of the Pangong lake.

    As per the agreement the next meeting of the Senior Commanders will be convened within 48 hours after the complete disengagement in the Pangong Lake area so as to address and resolve all other remaining issues.

  • Disengagement in areas of eastern Ladakh is surrender to China: AK Antony

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader and former defence minister A K Antony on Sunday alleged that disengagement in both the Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso Lake areas and the creation of a buffer zone was a “surrender” of India’s rights.

    Addressing a press conference, he also said that at a time when India was facing multiple challenges at the border and was facing a two-front war-like situation, the increase in defence budget this year is meagre and insignificant and was a “betrayal” of the country.

    The government had on Friday emphatically stated that India has not “conceded” any territory following the disengagement agreement with China in Pangong lake areas in eastern Ladakh.

    Antony said he was sad that the Narendra Modi government was not giving proper priority to national security at a time when China was getting belligerent and Pakistan continued to promote terrorism.

    He said disengagement was good as it reduced tension but it should not be done at the cost of national security.

    “Both disengagements in Galwan and Pangong Tso are a surrender,” he alleged, adding that it amounted to surrendering of areas traditionally controlled by India.

    “We are surrendering our rights,” he alleged, noting that Galwan Valley as Indian territory was never a disputed land even in 1962.

    “Disengagement and buffer zone means surrender of our land at the moment,” he alleged, while warning that the government is not understanding the importance of this disengagement and creation of the buffer zone.

    He warned that China can play mischief anytime by helping Pakistan in Siachen.

    “We want to know from this government when there will be status quo ante as on mid-April 2020 in the entire India-China border,” he said, asking what was the government’s plan in this regard.

    He also said that the government must take the country and the people into confidence on restoration of status quo ante at the borders.

    He said the government always consulted leaders of all political parties before taking such a decision and must keep national security in mind.

    Antony alleged that the government did not increased the defence budget to “appease” China and to give a message that it did not want to confront them.

    “To appease China, the government sent a message by not increasing this defence budget that we do not want to confront you.

    To appease China, we have agreed to disengagement on China’s terms,” he alleged.

    When the whole country is facing serious challenges from both China and Pakistan, the senior Congress leader said the armed forces are demanding support and substantial increase in the defence budget.

    “But compared to last year’s revised defence budget, this budget has made a meagre and insufficient increase of only 1.48 per cent.

    “It is a betrayal of the country. The government has let down our armed forces. The government is not paying proper attention of national security,” he further charged.

  • 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.

    ALSO READ: Surprise disengagement in Ladakh as China, India pull back combat vehicles

    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?”.

  • Disengagement process on in Pangong Tso areas: Sources

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Chinese and Indian militaries continued to pull back armoured elements and thinning down of troops in areas around Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh as part of an agreement reached between the two sides on the disengagement process, military sources said on Friday.

    While armoured elements like battle tanks and armoured personnel carriers are being withdrawn from friction points in the south bank of Pangong Tso, troops are being pulled back from the north bank areas, they said.

    The sources said withdrawal of armoured elements from the south bank of Pangong Tso is almost complete and temporary structures erected by both sides will be demolished in the next few days.

    “The disengagement process will take time as both sides are together carrying out verification of the withdrawal of troops and military hardware,” said a source.

    The disengagement of troops and armoured elements is limited to the friction points where the two sides were on an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation, sources said.

    After a nine-month standoff, the two militaries reached the 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.

    On Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a detailed statement in Parliament on the disengagement pact.

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

    Similar action will take place on the south bank of the lake as well, Singh said in Parliament.

    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 was specifically insisting 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.

    The sources said following completion of the disengagement process, the two sides will hold talks on the de-escalation process.

    They said field commanders of both the armies have been holding talks on a daily basis in the last few days to coordinate the disengagement process.

    The defence minister said the implementation of the pact started on Wednesday and 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 area so as to resolve all other remaining issues.

    On Friday, 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.