First phase of pullback of troops in Eastern Ladakh almost done, Corps commanders from both sides to meet next week

NEW DELHI: The next round of the Corps Commander level talks between the Indian and Chinese armies is likely to be held next week to discuss the next phase of the de-escalation process of the military build-up by the two countries along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh.

A roadmap for further disengagement and de-escalation will be taken up during the meeting between 14 Corps Commander Lieutenant General Harinder Singh and his Chinese counterpart of the South Xinjiang military region, officials said on the condition of anonymity. A date for the meeting will be decided in a day or two. The two sides are expected to discuss the pull back of thousands of troops and war-fighting equipment to a mutually agreed distance from the current close proximity deployment. Presently, both sides have deployed artillery guns, tanks, fighter jets and attack helicopters near the Line of Actual Control (LAC). There has been no change in these in-depth area deployments. A timeline will be decided for this pull back.

Pulling back of Chinese troops from the Finger 4 area of Pangong Tso- the site of a violent clash that left troops from both sides injured- is also expected to be taken up during the talks. The PLA has thinned down troops from the Finger 4 area, but has not completely vacated it, officials said. Ensuring the disengagement of Chinese troops from the Finger 4 area has turned out to be the most difficult for India among the other confrontation points. The PLA have setup defensive structures and camps upto Finger 4. Even if they vacate Finger 4, a lot will still have to be done given that the Indian perception of the LAC lies several kilometres east of the Chinese deployments at Finger 8. And there is a heavy Chinese troops presence between Finger 4 and 8.

But before reaching this stage of the disengagement process, the two sides will verify the ongoing process of creating buffer zones between the two armies at the confrontation points. The creation of buffer zones, which started earlier this week and is the first step of the disengagement process, was decided at the previous Corps Commander level meeting on June 30. Sources said that troops from both sides have pulled back by 1.5-2.5 km at Galwan Valley, Gogra and Hot Springs.

Lastly, India is aiming at ensuring the restoration of status quo ante, which will involve maintaining deployments that were there in April.