The eighth round of military-level talks between India and China took place over 10 hours on Friday amid persistent tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh and rapidly falling temperatures below zero.
The marathon talks between Lieutenant General PKG Menon, the new commander of India’s 14th Corps in Chushul, Ladakh, and his Chinese counterpart did not agree on any concrete roadmap this time. It is believed that a fresh dialogue will begin at the diplomatic and special representative level to melt this frozen ice at the military level.
However, both commanders are adamant about the terms of the retreat. No formal statement has been released regarding this eighth round of talks so far. According to sources, China is still calling for the withdrawal of the Indian Army from its high altitude from the northern and southern part of Pangong Lake.
At the same time, on the other hand, India has maintained its old demand for simultaneous retreat of Chinese army from all areas of tension including Pangong. In a joint statement issued after the seventh round of talks between the two core commanders in China on October 12 in Moldo, the commitment was made to withdraw by continuing the negotiations.
Sources said that a joint statement could be issued this time too. According to sources, in the old statement, there was also an agreement to increase the military mobilization on both sides. This is a positive step towards building trust. Significantly, in East Ladakh, India and China are in a face-to-face with the army of 50 to 60 thousand and the entire equipment.
