NEW DELHI (CU)_India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday (Feb 11) said that following a productive discussion with China, the parties have agreed to disengage along the North and South banks of Pangong Lake.
Providing details of agreement to remove troops from the friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Singh said that the Indian soldiers will be pulled back to their Dhan Singh Thapa post between Finger-2 and Finger-3, while troops of the People’s Liberation Army of China will withdraw to their positions East of Finger-8.
According to Singh, the agreement is expected to substantially restore the situation to that existing prior to commencement of the standoff last year, which killed 20 Indian soldiers, and more than 40 of the Chinese troops.
Briefing the Rajya Sabha on the agreement, the Defence Minister noted that both countries will remove their troops in a phased and coordinated manner.
Singh also said that India and China have agreed to convene a meeting between senior commanders of both countries, within 48 hours after complete disengagement in the Pangong Lake area, in order to “address and resolve all other remaining issues”.
During his address, the Defence Minister reassured the Rajya Sabha that India lost nothing to China during the talks which led to the agreement, although there are several outstanding issues which will be the focus of the next discussion between the parties.
“I want to assure this House that in these talks we have not conceded anything,” Singh said. “The House should also know that there are still some outstanding issues with regard to deployment and patrolling at some other points along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh. These will be the focus of further discussions with the Chinese side. “
He noted that while India’s security forces have proved that they are devoted to protecting the sovereignty of the country, nevertheless, the South Asian nation is committed to maintaining peace at the LAC.
Singh also cited three principles which would determine India’s approach to talks with China; both sides should strictly respect and observe the LAC, neither side should attempt to alter the status quo unilaterally, and all agreements and understandings between the two sides must be fully abided by in their entirety.
He noted that any disturbance to the peace and tranquility along the LAC in the border areas would have adverse implications on bilateral relations between New Delhi and Beijing, and that peace and harmony in this area is the “fundamental premise” for the development of relations between the two countries.
