News Analysis India

Tag: Ladakh standoff

  • ‘Chronology Samajhiye’: Rahul Gandhi targets PM Narendra Modi over eastern Ladakh standoff

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging that he is “scared” of China.

    “Mr 56-inch is scared of China,” he said on Twitter, putting out a short video clip detailing the events at the border with China.

    The video, titled ‘chronology samajhiye’ (understand the chronology), is a compilation of news reports on the Sino-India military standoff that erupted in eastern Ladakh on May 5 last year.

    Mr 56” is scared of China.Mr 56” चीन से डरता है। pic.twitter.com/taRfoRzMEl
    — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 24, 2021
    The 54-second video also showed the chronology of the events in eastern Ladakh since the standoff broke out.

    Gandhi and his Congress party have been critical of Prime Minister Modi’s policy on China.

    India on Friday asserted that the “provocative behaviour and unilateral” attempts by the Chinese side to alter the status quo in eastern Ladakh resulted in serious disturbance of peace and tranquillity in the mountainous region.

    Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi rejected China’s fresh comments blaming India for the Galwan valley clashes on June 15 in which 20 Indian Army personnel and at least five Chinese military officers and soldiers were killed.

    “Our position with regard to developments last year along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh has been clear and consistent…It was the provocative behaviour and unilateral attempts of the Chinese side to alter status quo in contravention of all our bilateral agreements that resulted in serious disturbance of peace and tranquillity. This has also impacted the bilateral relations,” Bagchi said.

  • India builds world’s highest road in Ladakh at 19,300 ft, overtakes Bolivian record 

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The strategically important Chumar Sector in Eastern Ladakh has got an alternative road route connecting it to Leh, the largest town of Ladakh. The road passes through the world’s highest motorable pass.

    The Ministry of Defence on Wednesday said, “Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has constructed and black-topped the highest motorable 52 km-long tarmac road in the world at 19,300 ft at Umlingla Pass in Eastern Ladakh creating a record in high-altitude road construction.” 

    The previous record was of the road in Bolivia connecting to its volcano Uturuncu at 18,953 ft. The significance can be of the road can be understood from the fact that it connects important towns in the Chumar sector which will be a boon to the local population as it offers an alternative direct route connecting Chisumle and Demchok from Leh.” 

    The Eastern Ladakh is witness to a protracted standoff that began in May 2020 with around 60,000 troops stationed in the vicinity along with arms and equipment such as tanks, artillery guns, and mechanised vehicles. As the high altitude makes logistics a constraint in these areas, such roads will be of utmost assistance in maintaining the troop level.

    The Chumar sector has been witness to tense situations and standoffs due to the differing perceptions regarding the position of the Line of Actual Control.  

    The road will enhance the socio-economic condition and promote tourism in Ladakh, says the MoD.

    The exercise of infrastructure development in such harsh and tough terrain is extremely challenging. During the winter, the temperature dips to -40 degrees, and the oxygen level at this altitude is almost 50% less than the normal places. “The BRO has achieved the feat due to the grit and resilience of its personnel who work in treacherous terrain and extreme weather conditions,” MoD said.

    The altitude at which the road has been constructed surpasses some of the most difficult and high-altitude locations. The road has been constructed at an altitude higher than the Mt Everest Base Camps as the South Base Camp in Nepal is at an altitude of 17,598 ft, while North Base Camp in Tibet is at 16,900 ft. The road has been constructed much above the altitude of Siachen Glacier which is at 17,700 ft. The Khardung La Pass in Leh is at an altitude of 17,582 ft.

  • Strategically important Chumar sector of Ladakh gets an alternative road link from Leh

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The strategically important Chumar Sector in Eastern Ladakh has got an alternative road route connecting it to Leh, the largest town of Ladakh. The road passes through the world’s highest motorable pass.

    The Ministry of Defence on Wednesday said, “Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has constructed and black-topped the highest motorable 52 km-long tarmac road in the world at 19,300 ft at Umlingla Pass in Eastern Ladakh creating a record in high-altitude road construction.” 

    The previous record was of the road in Bolivia connecting to its volcano Uturuncu at 18,953 ft. The significance can be of the road can be understood from the fact that it connects important towns in the Chumar sector which will be a boon to the local population as it offers an alternative direct route connecting Chisumle and Demchok from Leh.” 

    The Eastern Ladakh is witness to a protracted standoff that began in May 2020 with around 60,000 troops stationed in the vicinity along with arms and equipment such as tanks, artillery guns, and mechanised vehicles. As the high altitude makes logistics a constraint in these areas, such roads will be of utmost assistance in maintaining the troop level.

    The Chumar sector has been witness to tense situations and standoffs due to the differing perceptions regarding the position of the Line of Actual Control.  

    The road will enhance the socio-economic condition and promote tourism in Ladakh, says the MoD.

    The exercise of infrastructure development in such harsh and tough terrain is extremely challenging. During the winter, the temperature dips to -40 degrees, and the oxygen level at this altitude is almost 50% less than the normal places. “The BRO has achieved the feat due to the grit and resilience of its personnel who work in treacherous terrain and extreme weather conditions,” MoD said.

    The altitude at which the road has been constructed surpasses some of the most difficult and high-altitude locations. The road has been constructed at an altitude higher than the Mt Everest Base Camps as the South Base Camp in Nepal is at an altitude of 17,598 ft, while North Base Camp in Tibet is at 16,900 ft. The road has been constructed much above the altitude of Siachen Glacier which is at 17,700 ft. The Khardung La Pass in Leh is at an altitude of 17,582 ft.

  • 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.

  • Ignoring China’s actions can cause huge problems later: Rahul Gandhi to government

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday alleged that the government is clueless on how to handle China, and said ignoring its actions now will cause problems later.

    He cited a media report which claimed that in Demchok in Eastern Ladakh, China’s tents are still on the Indian side and there is no date yet for talks between core commanders of the two countries.

    “GOI is clueless on how to handle China. Ignoring their actions now will cause huge problems in the future,” Gandhi said on Twitter.

    India and China are involved in a stand-off in Eastern Ladakh since May last year and two countries have been holding talks for de-escalation and disengagement.

    Congress general secretary and chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also took a swipe at the prime minister over the matter.

    “Show red eyes, Saheb, blow your 56″ saheb,” he said in a tweet in Hindi using the hashtag #RemoveChinaFromOurLand.

  • De-escalation, disengagement debate in Eastern Ladakh stalls Chinese-Indian Army talks

    Express News Service
    NEW DEHI: The standoff in Eastern Ladakh is stuck as Indian Army and Chinese People’s Liberation Army have differing approach on troop presence and their withdrawal from standoff points. There have been major parlays, at various levels to sort out the standoff. Also, this time the numbers of the contentious locations along the LAC in Ladakh have increased.

    An official aware of the developments told, “While Chinese PLA is pressing to de-escalate and then disengage, Indian Army has made it clear that unless the Chinese troops move back to the pre-May 5, 2020 positions India will not move its troops back.”

    The Chinese want Indian Army to move out all its soldiers which got deployed after the May 5, 2020 stand off which began with the clashes between the troops at Finger 4 on the north bank of Pangong Tso. It later spread out to multiple points including Hot Spring, Gogra, Galwan and Depsang.

    A distinct change this time is the increase of on ground friction positions which total to 17 such locations along the 832 kilometer long LAC in Ladakh.

    “Amidst the standoff there is an increase of five friction points which include area around Kilometer 120 in Galwan, PP 15 and PP 17A at Shoksha La on the North of the Pangong and Rechin La and Rezang La on the South of Pangong,” added the official.

    Before May 5, 2020 there were two Mutually Agreed Disputed Areas (Trig Heights and Demchok) and 10 Areas of Differing Perceptions at Samar Lungpa, Depsang Bulge, Areas east of Pt 6556, Crossing of Charding Nullah, Kongka La, Pangong Tso, Spanggur, Mt Sajjum, Dumchele and Chumar.

    With the rise in disputes, there has been increase in the communication between the PLA and the Indian Army in order to resolve the protracted tensions along the LAC which led to deadly duels in Galwan which claimed lives on both sides.

    Also, for the first time the Corps Commanders (Senior Higher Military Commander Level: SCML) from the two sides got involved to discuss the resolution of the standoff otherwise the Division Commanders (Higher Military Commander Level: HCML) were the highest-level officers resolving the ground situations.

    There have been frantic talks which used to be up to five hotline calls in a day. “There has been no gap in communication as there were 11 SCML, 10 HCML, 55 Delegation Level ( Sector Commander or Brigadier level) talks. The Hot Line talks in this period has been 1450 times.”

    The hotlines have been set-up at Daulet Beg Oldi (DBO) and Chushul in Ladakh. The last SCML or Corps Commander level talks were held on April 9 this year.

    Indian and Chinese Corps commanders plan to meet for the 12th Round within a fortnight to take ahead the disengagement process. “There are good chances that the two sides agree to disengage from Gogra and Hotspring,” said another official. But there is a trust deficit which will take time to regain and under the new Memorandum of Understandings and Agreements s the Chinese have broken all the past agreements told the officials.

    Amidst the talks the Chinese have been furtively building permanent structures on their side. “It reflects their intention as it is an important facto,” the officials remarked.

    India has also begun sprucing up its all-round logistics chains and the associated military infrastructure. India is also inducting new equipment. 

    There has been no attempt to reoccupy the positions which were vacated by the Indian sides and the Buffer Zones at various places still exist but it varies at different points.

    As for the troops, the Chinese were resorting to quick rotations at the heights. “The PLA rotated it troops from Rechin La and Rezang La in 10 days.”

    The Indian troops were better acclimatized but they also rotated troops with the frontline troops falling back in the habitat which have been made close to the frontline areas.

  • Jaishankar holds talks with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi as India keeps a close eye on PLA activities at LAC

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday firmly conveyed to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi that the prolongation of the existing situation in eastern Ladakh was visibly impacting the bilateral ties in a “negative manner” and rued that there was no forward movement from the Chinese side since the disengagement in Pangong lake areas in February that had created conditions for resolving the remaining issues.

    During a one-hour meeting on the sidelines of an SCO conclave in Dushanbe, the external affairs minister also told Wang that any unilateral change in the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) was “not acceptable” to India and that the overall ties can only develop after full restoration of peace and tranquillity in eastern Ladakh.

    The two foreign ministers agreed to hold the next round of military dialogue at the earliest and that it should discuss all the remaining issues and seek a mutually acceptable solution, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

    The in-person meeting took place in the midst of a stalemate in the disengagement process between the two militaries in remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh after they withdrew troops and weapons from the Pangong lake areas in February following series of military and diplomatic talks to resolve the standoff.

    “The External Affairs Minister (EAM) recalled that both sides had agreed that a prolongation of the existing situation was not in the interest of either side. It was visibly impacting the relationship in a negative manner,” the MEA said in a statement.

    Assessing the overall relationship, Jaishankar emphasised that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas has been the foundation for the development of ties since 1988.

    “The attempts to change status quo last year that also disregarded commitments under the 1993 and 1996 agreements have inevitably affected ties.”

    “He emphasized that it was, therefore, in mutual interest that the two sides work towards early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh, while fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols,” the MEA said.

    It was the first meeting between Jaishankar and Wang after their talks in Moscow on the sidelines of another SCO conclave in September last year.

    In the Moscow talks, both sides reached a five-point agreement to resolve the border row.

    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.

    “Recalling their last meeting in Moscow, in September 2020, the External Affairs Minister emphasized the need to follow through on the agreement reached then and complete the disengagement, resolving the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh at the earliest,” the MEA said.

    It said Jaishankar pointed out to Wang that the successful disengagement in the Pangong Lake Area earlier this year had created conditions for resolving the remaining issues.

    “It was expected that the Chinese side would work with us towards this objective. The External Affairs Minister noted, however, that the situation in remaining areas is still unresolved,” the MEA said.

    It said the ministers agreed that the next round of military talks should be convened at the earliest.

    “They also agreed that in this meeting, the two sides should discuss all the remaining issues and seek a mutually acceptable solution. There was also an understanding that both sides will continue to ensure stability on the ground and neither side will take any unilateral action that could increase tension,” the MEA said.

    In a series of tweets, Jaishankar said the discussions focused on the outstanding issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.

    The MEA said that the two ministers had a detailed exchange of views on the current situation along the LAC in eastern Ladakh and also on other issues related to the overall India-China relations.

    “Concluded a one-hour bilateral meeting with State Councilor and FM Wang Yi of China on the sidelines of Dushanbe SCO Foreign Ministers Meeting.

    Discussions focused on the outstanding issues along the LAC in the Western Sector,” Jaishankar tweeted.

    He said full restoration and maintenance of peace and tranquillity in border areas was essential for the development of the bilateral ties.

    “Highlighted that unilateral change of status quo is not acceptable. Full restoration and maintenance of peace and tranquillity in border areas is essential for development of our ties,” Jaishankar said.

    The MEA said the two Ministers had a detailed exchange of views on the current situation along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh and also on other issues related to the overall India-China relations.

    In the meeting, Jaishankar and Wang noted the agreement between both sides in the last round of talks at the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) on June 25 to hold another round of military talks.

    The MEA said the two ministers also agreed to remain in touch.

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

    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.

    According to military officials, each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control in the sensitive sector.

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

    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.

    There has been no attempt by the Indian or the Chinese side to occupy the areas in eastern Ladakh from where they disengaged in February and both sides are involved in talks to resolve the remaining issues in the region, the Indian Army said on Wednesday.

    The Army said it has been monitoring activities by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) including turnover of troops in the region.

    The Army stated this in a statement trashing a media report which claimed the Chinese military has again crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh at several places and that there has been at least one incident of clash between the two sides.

    “Ever since the disengagement agreement in February this year, there has been no attempt by either side to occupy the areas from where the disengagement had been undertaken. There have been no clashes in Galwan or any other area, as reported in the article,” the Army said.

    It also said that the report mentioning that agreements with China have collapsed is “false and baseless”.

    “Both sides have continued with negotiations to resolve the balance issues, and regular patrolling in respective areas continues. The situation on the ground continues to be as hithertofore. PLA activities, including turnover of troops, continue to be monitored by the Indian Army,” the Army said.

    To a query about the Indian media report, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in Beijing that he was not aware of it.

    “I am not aware of the situation you mentioned,” Zhao said.

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

    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.

  • Worrying: China is creating permanent structures in Ladakh

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The apprehensions of a long haul along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh have started manifesting on the ground as the Chinese forces have been creating permanent structures in areas wherever the Peoples’ Liberation Army troops are deployed. This comes after the Indian Air Force Chief confirmed that the Chinese are improving their air infrastructure.

    Sources in the security establishment said that “the Chinese have been creating permanent structures, including those required for defences and habitation of the troops”. In view of the Chinese move, India has also been building permanent defences and structures for habitation but these will take some time, added the source.

    Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria had said in the first week of July that China had strengthened its infrastructure and improved the efficiency of its air operations. Since May 2020, the PLA has moved its soldiers along the LAC at several points, forcing the Indian army to counter the Chinese move with its own deployments. Although there has been disengagement of troops and equipment from the north and suth banks of Pangong Tso since then, the standoff continuing in areas like Hot Spring, Gogra Post and Depsang. 

    Defence Analyst Maj-Gen (retd) S B Asthana calls it a furtherance of the Chinese ‘incremental encroachment strategy’. “China, in the overall design under incremental encroachment strategy, is trying to enforce the infra development and its claim along its perception of LAC and in that context, is trying to settle down villages and make permanent structures so that over a period, its claim gets strengthened.” 

    “We should also improve our infrastructure along our perception of LAC and also make permanent structures and settle down villages so that the Chinese don’t succeed in their game plan,” he suggested as a counter move. India has ramped up road-building along the LAC and has also mobilised the troops with more than 50,000 personnel stationed in eastern Ladakh to thwart any move by the PLA men. 

  • 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.

  • India, China should be able to achieve status quo in eastern Ladakh in gradual manner: CDS

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India and China should be able to achieve status quo in eastern Ladakh in a gradual manner as both sides understand that it is in the best interest of ensuring peace and tranquillity in the region, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat said on Friday.

    In an address at a think-tank, Gen Rawat, at the same time, said that India must remain prepared for “any misadventure” and respond accordingly as it has done in the past “All I would say that keep your guard up, remain prepared; do not take things lightly. We must also be prepared for any misadventure and respond accordingly. We have responded in the past and will do so in the future,” he said replying to a question.

    About the resolution of the prolonged standoff, Gen Rawat said both sides are engaged in negotiations political, diplomatic and military levels to resolve the row.

    “It will take time. I think in a gradual manner, we should be able to achieve the status quo because if you do not achieve the status quo and remain in this kind of a position, it could lead to misadventure at some time,” he said.

    “Therefore, both the nations understand that returning to the status quo is in the best interest of ensuring peace and tranquillity to which our nation is committed,” he said.

    ALSO READ | Situation along LAC normal since February disengagement in Pangong areas: Army chief on Ladakh row

    Asked whether China has gone back on its word on disengagement from remaining friction points, he said there is suspicion on both sides and India too moved a large number of troops and resources there.

    “There is suspicion on both sides because while the other side has deployed their forces and created infrastructure, we are also not lagging behind anymore. We have also moved a large number of troops and resources. There is a kind of suspicion on both sides as to what can happen,” the Chief of Defence Staff said.

    When referred to reports of China increasing military presence in the region, the Chief of Defence Staff said: “I think they realised that Indian armed forces cannot be taken lightly. Indian armed forces are no longer the armed forces of 1961. This is a strong armed force and it is not a pushover.

    “They will stand up to what they worth. I think that is what has been realised.”

    India and China on June 25 held another round of diplomatic talks on the border row during which they 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.

    At the virtual meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs, the two sides had a “frank exchange” of views and decided to maintain dialogue to reach a mutually acceptable solution for withdrawal of troops in all friction points to enable progress in the overall ties, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

    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.

    India has been particularly pressing for disengagement of troops in Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang.

    India has been insisting on returning to the status quo of April 2020 in the region.

    According to military officials, each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control in the sensitive sector.

    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.