NEW DELHI: The outcome of the marathon 15-hour meeting of the commanders of India and China was discussed by the China Study Group (CSG) headed by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval here on Wednesday.
The CSG comprises the Cabinet Secretary, the Secretaries of Home, External Affairs and Defence as well as representatives of the Services. It will take a call on the ‘further course of action’ on the graded, mutual de-escalation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh — which may be a long-drawn process stretching into several weeks.
The Northern Army Commander, Lt Gen Y K Joshi, is expected to brief the CSG on the developments along the LAC. Similar discussions are reported to have been held by the Chinese side after Tuesday’s meeting in Chushul. The meeting of Lt Gen-level commanders ended at 2 am on Wednesday, indicating a partial progress. Details are awaited as to what timeline the two sides have agreed upon for pulling back troops and war-waging equipment.
It is highly possible that there may be another round of commanders’ meeting besides the one by the India-China Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination.
The two nuclear-armed neighbours are locked in a bitter standoff since early May.