The latest round of talks between Indian and Chinese military commanders over the standoff in Ladakh failed to make headway on Sunday as the Chinese side was not agreeable to the constructive suggestions made by India for resolving the impasse.
India had pressed for an early disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh at the 13th round of military talks with China that lasted for around eight-and-half hours on Sunday, the Indian army said in a statement issued on Monday.
"During the meeting, the Indian side made constructive suggestions for resolving the remaining areas but the Chinese side was not agreeable and also could not provide any forward-looking proposals. The meeting thus did not result in resolution of the remaining areas," the statement said.
"The two sides have agreed to maintain communications and also to maintain stability on the ground. It is our expectation that the Chinese side will take into account the overall perspective of bilateral relations and will work towards early resolution of the remaining issues while fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols," the statement added.
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A major focus of the Corps Commander-level talks on the Chinese side of the Chushul-Moldo border point in eastern Ladakh was to complete the stalled disengagement at Hot Springs area.
The talks were held two months after the last round of negotiations that resulted in the disengagement of troops from Gogra.
The resolution in Gogra had marked India and China backing down in four of the six flashpoints – the others being Galwan and North and South banks of the Pangong Lake. The standoffs in Depsang and Hot Springs continue.
India has been insisting that the resolution of outstanding issues in all friction points including in Depsang is essential for an overall improvement in ties between the two countries.
Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control or LAC in the sensitive sector.
Meanwhile, China has been continuing with its mischief on the border as nearly nearly 100 soldiers of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) had breached the LAC in the Barahoti sector in Uttarakhand on August 30 but went back from the area after a few hours.
India’s Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane had said on Saturday that China is continuing to beef up its troops and infrastructure build-up at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) but he made it clear that "If they are there to stay, we are there to stay, too.”
