India, China talks on border conclude in short round

In one of the shortest round of such talks, Corps Commander level negotiations between India and China to resolve border tensions in Eastern Ladakh concluded early on Saturday night, with joint a statement expected soon.

The talks, which took place on the Chinese side at Moldo, focused on resolving tensions at Gogra and Hot Springs, the two remaining tensions areas after troops withdrew from Galwan valley last year and the Pangong lake in February.

The talks started at 10:30 am and concluded at 7:30 pm, which marks one of the shortest rounds, given that such negotiations in the past have proceeded past midnight. There is an expectation that these talks will lead to disengagement at the two friction points.


A larger de-escalation of tensions at the border, which commenced in April last year after PLA moved thousands of troops to the Line of Actual Control, is expected to take longer given that over 50,000 troops remain forward deployed by both sides.

As reported by ET, India and China are inching closer to further disengagement of troops at Ladakh, with officials saying that there has been no attempt by the PLA to breach an agreement reached in February to withdraw troops from Pangong Tso.

The Indian position has been for a `comprehensive de-escalation’ of tensions in Eastern Ladakh that cropped up in April last year after PLA moved close to 50,000 troops near the border and attempted to breach the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Talks had been stuck as China was insisting on withdrawal of additional troops brought in by both sides, followed by talks on specific flashpoints.

The Indian stance, sources said, has been on disengagement at the flashpoints – primarily at Kong Kala (Gogra) and Shok Sala (Hot Springs) – before moving on to a larger de-escalation that would involve moving back of additional troops, armour and artillery from Eastern Ladakh.