The Consultation and Cooperation Mechanism (WMCC) on the border dispute between India and China met on Thursday to end the ongoing deadlock on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, but it did not yield any concrete results.
In the fourth meeting of the WMCC, after the violent clash in Galvan, the two countries maintained their stand. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the two sides agreed to continue negotiations at the diplomatic and military level to resolve issues pending under the existing agreements and protocols on an ‘expeditious basis’.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Anurag Shrivastava said after the diplomatic level talks held on Thursday, both sides had clear and comprehensive talks on the current status of LAC. Both sides are in favor of working seriously on repelling troops from the LAC in the western sector.
Srivastava said, the talks were based on the agreement between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries and the two Special Representatives. Under this, both the armies would have to continue efforts to go back to the LAC completely back to the previous position.
The meeting emphasized peace and confidence-building along the border to continue trade and other bilateral relations. Consensus was also made that the avenues of dialogue should be kept open. At the WMCC meeting, the Indian side was represented by Naveen Srivastava, Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Chinese side was represented by Hong Liang, Director General of Border and Maritime Department in the Foreign Ministry.
China still holding Pangong Tso
According to sources, China is still not retreating despite its consent from other stressed areas including Pangong Tso. In Depsang too, the Chinese army is blocking the Indian Army from patrolling its territory by making huge mobilization along the border. Hence, the Indian Army stands firm with equal strength at all places.
