Precursor to Eastern Ladakh: India Prods China to Ensure Disengagement at Other Friction Points

 'This would allow both sides to consider de-escalation of forces in Eastern Ladakh as that alone will lead to the restoration of peace,' the MEA said.

 

 

New Delhi: India on Friday, March 5, said it expected China to ensure disengagement in remaining friction points, as that could lead to consideration of the steps to be taken in the de-escalation of forces in eastern Ladakh and allow for progress in bilateral ties.

The Indian statement comes about two weeks after the completion of disengagement at the northern and southern shores of Pangong Tso lake, announced at the meeting of senior commanders on February 20. The two foreign ministers had also spoken to each other after the completion and agreed to set up a hotline between the ministries for “timely communication and exchange of views”.

During the February 25 phone conversation, Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, had called for quick resolution of all remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh, where Indian and Chinese military have been in a stand-off since May 2020. 

According to the Indian read-out of the call, Jaishankar had stated that once disengagement is complete at all friction points, the two sides could also look at broader de-escalation of troops in the area and work towards restoration of peace and tranquility.

One week later, the Ministry of External Affairs reinforced the message of moving faster on de-escalation in other areas like Depsang.At the weekly briefing, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that it was India’s expectation that “the Chinese side will work with us, both through the WMCC and Senior Commanders’ meetings, to ensure that disengagement in the remaining areas is completed at the earliest”.

 

“This would allow both sides to consider de-escalation of forces in Eastern Ladakh as that alone will lead to the restoration of peace and tranquillity and provide conditions for progress in our bilateral relationship,” he added.

Stating that de-escalation at Pangong Tso provided a template for other areas, Srivastava noted that there had been a “detailed exchange of views at the last meeting of Senior Commanders on the remaining issues”.

SOURCE ; THE WIRE

 

Social media is bold.

Social media is young.

Social media raises questions.

 Social media is not satisfied with an answer.

Social media looks at the big picture.

 Social media is interested in every detail.

social media is curious.

 Social media is free.

Social media is irreplaceable.

But never irrelevant.

Social media is you.

(With input from news agency language)

 If you like this story, share it with a friend!  

We are a non-profit organization. Help us financially to keep our journalism free from government and corporate pressure