LEH: The Indian and Chinese armies’ commander-level talks began their fourth round in Chushul on Tuesday with an urgent note to complete the disengagement and de-escalation at the earliest so that the work of the delineation of the LAC could be taken up immediately thereafter.
The delineation of the LAC, a matter pending over decades, is the ultimate goal of the two sides, to avert the repeat of skirmishes and standoff situations. The worst violent clashes since 1962 war took place in Galwan Valley on June 15 and 16 in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed. The Chinese casualties have not been spoken of in specific terms by Beijing till date.
Reports reaching here from Ladakh suggested that XIV Corps Commander Lt Gen Harjinder Singh met his Chinese counterpart Major General Lin Liu met in Chushul and wanted to know the verifiable position of the Chinese troops. There is a call for physical verification of the withdrawal without any repeat of the Galwan Valley-type incident.
The withdrawal is mutual, but the Indian side is having its own doubts because it was the Chinese who had intruded into the Indian side. Indian side has already dismissed the Chinese charges that it was carrying out the construction of roads and bridges transgressing the demarcated part of the LAC.
The Corps Commanders are basically focused on the past position and the go-back position for which they are holding dialogue.
The whole issue is complex and it may not be possible to achieve any fast-track development. It is going to be a painfully slow process, sources said.