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Tag: pangong tso

  • ‘Blatant compromise’ with nationwide safety: Congress slams Modi authorities over Pangong Tso bridge difficulty

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Thursday termed as “meek” the federal government’s response to studies that China was constructing a second bridge throughout Pangong Tso in jap Ladakh and alleged that it was a “blatant compromise” with India’s nationwide safety.

    A day after studies emerged about China constructing the bridge, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday mentioned the world the place the reported building is being undertaken is underneath the occupation of that nation for many years.

    At a media briefing, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi mentioned India displays such developments.

    Tagging a video of Bagchi’s remarks, Congress chief sokesperson Randeep Surjewala mentioned in a tweet, “Such meek & cowering response to building of 2nd bridge by China on Pangong Tso Lake is a blatant compromise with our ‘National Security’.”

    “China continuously violates our territorial integrity and a diffident Modi Govt just cedes our territory. This is deprecable & condemnable!” he mentioned.

    In response to queries over the media studies, Bagchi mentioned on the media briefing, “We have seen media reports and other reports on the so-called bridge. Somebody said second bridge or if it is an expansion of the current bridge.”

    He mentioned India at all times felt that the world that’s referred to within the studies is underneath the occupation of the Chinese aspect for many years.

  • Ladakh standoff: India, China comply with disengage from a key patrol level

    ENDING THE stalemate in border talks that lasted practically six months, India and China have agreed in precept to disengage at a key patrol level in japanese Ladakh although different friction areas stay within the area, authorities sources mentioned.
    The settlement on PP17A was reached through the twelfth spherical of Corps Commander-level talks Saturday. The assembly, which was a part of a collection of measures to resolve the 15-month standoff in Ladakh, was held on the Indian aspect of the Chushul-Moldo border.
    Sources mentioned China has agreed to step again from PP17A, also called the Gogra Post, however is “not inclined” to maneuver again from PP15 or the Hot Springs space. “Modalities are being worked out. But on PP17A, there is an agreement to disengage. On PP15, China continues to insist that it is holding its own side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC),” an official mentioned.
    The proposals are with the federal government, and particulars of how the troops will transfer are being mentioned, sources mentioned. The motion is anticipated to start out throughout the subsequent couple of days, they mentioned.
    The situation of Chinese ingression within the Depsang Plains and Charding-Ninglung Nallah (CNN) within the Demchok space weren’t mentioned, sources mentioned. But the newest breakthrough is important, they mentioned, contemplating the stalemate since February.
    A joint assertion issued Monday mentioned the 2 sides had a “candid and in-depth exchange of views on resolution of remaining areas related to disengagement along the Line of Actual Control in the Western Sector of India-China border areas”.
    It mentioned: “The two sides noted that this…meeting was constructive, which further enhanced mutual understanding. They agreed to resolve these remaining issues in an expeditious manner in accordance with the existing agreements and protocols and maintain the momentum of dialogue and negotiations.”
    The assertion mentioned the 2 additionally agreed that within the interim, “they will continue their effective efforts in ensuring stability along the LAC in the Western Sector and jointly maintain peace and tranquility”.
    According to sources, the disengagement at PP17A is more likely to comply with the method that was adopted for PP14 within the Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso the place a time frame was set for withdrawal, short-term constructions had been eliminated and a bodily verification was executed.

    Platoon-sized models have been current on the Indian aspect of the LAC, at PP15 and PP17A, because the Galwan clashes of June final 12 months, however the forces are now not in an “eyeball to eyeball” confrontation.
    “There is a distance of about 500m between troops of both countries at these friction points. But disengagement is important because it is difficult to maintain these positions, and matters can go out of hand any time,” one other official mentioned.
    In February, the 2 sides had disengaged from the north and south banks of Pangong Tso, the place troops and tanks from either side had been barely a number of hundred metres aside at some areas.
    Sources mentioned Saturday’s assembly, which started round 10.30 am, continued until 7.30 pm — a comparatively shorter interval in comparison with earlier engagements that continued until 2-3 am. They mentioned that earlier than the assembly, officers had been hoping to attain a breakthrough on PP15 and PP17A. “Both sides were prepared on what could be achieved. Most of this had been agreed upon during diplomatic engagements,” a senior Government official mentioned.
    Apart from PP15 and PP17A, PP14 in Galwan Valley, and Finger 4 on the north financial institution of Pangong Tso and Rezang La and Rechin La on the south financial institution, had been recognized as friction factors. Forces from either side have since disengaged from PP14 after the violent clashes of June 15 final 12 months, which left 20 Indian and not less than 4 Chinese troops lifeless.
    In Depsang Plains, Chinese troops are blocking Indian troopers from accessing their conventional patrolling limits — PP10, PP11, PP11A, PP12 and PP13. In Demchok, sources mentioned, “so-called civilians” have pitched tents on the Indian aspect of Charding Nallah, which marks the LAC.0

    “Parallel to the talks, China is also engaged in pin-prick tactics. They are building permanent structures very close to the border at many places and have quickened the pace of infrastructure development on their side. But we are hopeful of things improving at existing friction points,” a safety officer mentioned.
    The final Corps Commander-level talks had been held on April 9, when the 2 sides couldn’t even agree on a joint assertion. On Saturday, the Indian delegation was led by Lt Gen P G Okay Menon, Commander of XIV Corps that’s chargeable for the LAC with japanese Ladakh, whereas Maj Gen Liu Lin, Commander of South Xinjiang Military district, led the Chinese aspect.

  • Galwan Valley: A yr after the violent conflict

    On June 15 final yr, Ladakh’s Galwan Valley witnessed a violent conflict between the Armies of India and China. The conflict, wherein 20 Indian troopers have been killed, was one of many worst in 45 years, and led to a navy standoff with China and at the very least 11 rounds of navy talks for the disengagement course of.
    What occurred on June 15, 2020?
    Tensions had been excessive on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) weeks earlier than the conflict, with either side deploying an elevated variety of troopers on the border. India contended that China had moved into the Indian aspect of the LAC . Talks held between native navy commanders of each the armies on June 6, led to a mutually-agreed disengagement course of.
    A buffer zone was to be created between the 2 armies, nonetheless, an Indian commander seen a Chinese camp within the space and went to examine. This escalated right into a combat, leading to deaths and accidents. While no pictures have been fired, a year-end evaluate by the Defence Ministry states that China used “unorthodox weapons” at Galwan.
    In February 2021, China acknowledged for the primary time that 5 Chinese navy officers and troopers have been killed within the japanese Ladakh conflict.
    Indian military troopers relaxation subsequent to artillery weapons at a makeshift transit camp earlier than heading to Ladakh, close to Baltal, southeast of Srinagar, June 16, 2020. (Source: Reuters)

    A collection of navy talks finish in stalemate
    A gathering on the stage of Major Generals of each armies came about on the Patrolling Point 14, following the conflict, which introduced the state of affairs underneath management. Ten Indian Army personnel, captured by the Chinese, have been returned on June 17 after talks on the diplomatic and navy stage.
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi additionally addressed the nation, stating, “India wants peace. But on provocation, India will give a befitting reply.”
    A gathering between Corps Commanders of the Indian and Chinese armies ended with “mutual consensus to disengage” on June 16. However, no plan was drawn up and a collection of conferences and diplomatic talks resulted in a stalemate.
    “Army is preparing for the long haul and the standoff is expected to continue well into the winter,” sources within the military stated, after a gathering between XIV Corps Commander Lt General Harinder Singh and South Xinjiang Military Region Commander Major General Liu Lin.
    India sought a  restoration of establishment ante – of troops returning to places earlier than the faceoff started in May. Whereas, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian in a collection of tweets, 5 days after the conflict, claimed that the “Galwan Valley is located on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control in the west section of the China-India boundary. For many years, the Chinese border troops have been patrolling and on duty in this region.”
    A ceremonial Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) on ‘Chinese National Day’ held at Chinese BPM hut at Moldo in Eastern Ladakh in 2020; Delegations of each international locations reaffirmed their dedication in the direction of enhancing current cordial relations and sustaining peace. (Photo: ANI)
    The collection of of conferences continued until finish of 2020, with an escalation in September, when Chinese PLA claimed that Indian troops had fired warning pictures, prompting it to “take countermeasures to stabilize the situation on the ground” in Pangong Tso, probably the most contentious sectors in Ladkah,
    Breakthrough and disengagement
    The first main breakthrough in talks to resolve the nine-month navy standoff was solely reached in February 2021. China’s Defence Ministry introduced that Chinese and Indian troops on the southern and northern shores of Pangong Tso started “synchronized and organized disengagement”. The settlement was consistent with the consensus reached between Corps Commanders once they final met on January 24 throughout the ninth spherical of navy talks.
    Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, in a written assertion, stated: “The Chinese and Indian frontline troops at the southern and northern bank of the Pangong Tso Lake start synchronized and organized disengagement from February 10.”

    In an announcement, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that “there are still some outstanding issues that remain regarding deployment and patrolling on LAC” and talked about that “our attention will be on these in further discussions”.
    Chinese troops disengaging from the banks of Pangong lake in japanese Ladakh. (Photo: ANI)
    Apart from the north and south financial institution of Pangong Tso, the opposite friction factors embody PP15 in Hot Springs, PP17A in Gogra Post space, PP14 in Galwan Valley and the Depsang Plains within the far north the place Chinese troops have been blocking Indian troopers at a spot known as the Bottleneck, stopping them from accessing their conventional patrolling factors PP10, PP11, PP11A, PP12 and PP13.
    Following the disengagement within the north and south banks of Pangong Tso, Army Chief General M M Naravane said on May 19, “with no transgressions happening with no violations of this disengagement, I think the trust has built up.”
    He added that the troop ranges proceed to be what they have been on the peak of stand-off.

  • Disengagement not de-escalation: Army Chief says India to take care of troop ranges alongside China border

    India and China haven’t violated the disengagement course of in japanese Ladakh’s Pangong Tso however de-escalation is but to happen, Army Chief General M M Naravane stated on Wednesday. And until that occurs, he added, India will proceed to take care of an enhanced troop presence alongside the size of the border with China.
    The Army Chief stated India has round 50,000-60,000 troops within the japanese Ladakh area.
    In an interview with CNN News18, Naravane denied that talks with China had reached an deadlock.
    “The situation along the LAC (Line of Actual Control) post the disengagement of February has been very cordial. Both sides are observing that disengagement in letter and spirit. There has been no transgression of any kind.”
    He stated talks are persevering with and after the Corps Commanders met on April 9, the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination assembly has to happen.
    Since the disengagement, which was restricted to the north and south banks of Pangong Tso, in February, “with no transgressions happening with no violations of this disengagement, I think the trust has built up”, stated Naravane.
    “Because of that build-up in the trust maybe we will be able to make forward movement in the other areas where issues are still to be resolved. This is a continuous process, which will take time but will happen.”
    Naravane stated that the troop ranges proceed to be what they had been on the peak of stand-off.
    He stated whereas there was disengagement, there was no de-escalation. He: “The whole of the northern front from eastern Ladakh down till Arunachal Pradesh will see this enhanced presence till such time that we keep talking and the de-escalation happens”.

    Naravane additionally dismissed studies of extra clashes in Galwan in early May.
    On India and China creating their infrastructure within the depth space, Naravane stated: “When you’re deployed you don’t want to be deployed in harsh conditions or substandard facilities for months to come. China too is also improving his facilities and his infra his storage and so are we.”

    In an announcement to ANI information company, Naravane stated Wednesday that each India and China “come to our training areas during this particular period” however “there has been no movement in any areas where we have disengaged from”.
    Naravane instructed CNN News18 that almost 90 per cent of the personnel of the Army have gotten each doses of the coronavirus vaccine, whereas 97 per cent have gotten one dose.

  • Army chief: No ceasefire at LoC since February; hope to settle China points by means of talks

    Since the armies of India and Pakistan agreed to stick to the ceasefire settlement in February, there was no firing throughout the Line of Control (LoC) mentioned Army chief General M M Naravane on Monday, and, relating to the standoff with China, he mentioned the hope is to settle points by means of negotiations.
    Addressing a symposium organised by the Australian Army, the place the chiefs of Australian, Indonesia, Singapore and Japan Armies have been current, Naravane mentioned “legacy issues and differences need to be resolved through mutual consent and dialogue and not by unilateral actions”.
    The feedback come at a time when India and China are concerned in an over 11-month lengthy standoff in jap Ladakh. While disengagement within the Pangong Tso area passed off in February, with each side pulling again from eyeball-to-eyeball conditions, within the eleventh assembly between senior navy commanders on April 9, China refused to withdraw its troops from the Indian facet of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at Hot Springs and Gogra Post.
    At the symposium, Naravane mentioned in his handle that India has a land border of over 15,000 km, and “active and unsettled borders to our West with Pakistan and to the North and East with China, and of course there are associated challenges”.

    “Over time we have developed various mechanisms to address these challenges and move forward,” he mentioned, including that “progress and development of any nation and the well-being of its citizenry are, to a large extent, contingent on peace and tranquillity on the borders”.
    Regarding Pakistan, he mentioned, “we have recently entered into a ceasefire understanding” with their Army in February “and since then there has been no exchange of fire on an otherwise active Line of Control”. This, he said, “bodes well for the future”.
    “With China too, there have been positive developments along the Line of Actual Control, an area where both countries have differing perceptions on the alignment of the land borders. This has led to disengagement of troops in eastern Ladakh. We have recently concluded the 11th round of Corps Commander level talks between the two armies and we hope to settle our other border through further negotiations.”

    India, he mentioned, “looks to maintain peace and harmony with all its neighbours and in the region”. “Maintenance of peace and tranquillity requires joint efforts. All nations need to come together to uphold rules-based order, respect international laws and norms and develop mutual respect for each other.”
    He additionally talked about that India has “strong historical and cultural linkages” with Nepal and Bhutan, and with Bangladesh, he mentioned, “our relations are anchored in shared history and common heritage” and added that each armies have “strong institutional bonding”.

  • Army Chief MM Naravane: Haven’t misplaced an inch of land throughout China standoff

    INDIA HAS not misplaced even “an inch of land” to China throughout the standoff in jap Ladakh that started in May 2020, Army Chief General M M Naravane stated on Tuesday.
    “We have not lost out on any territory, we are where we were before this whole thing started… Not an inch of land has been lost,” General Naravane was quoted by ANI information company as saying in an interview.
    The Army Chief stated after the ninth spherical of talks between Corps Commanders on January 24, “we agreed for phased disengagement from friction areas” and “10th February onwards disengagement started and went as per plan, from north and south banks of Pangong Tso and Kailash Range”. He stated “people have gone back to their nearest permanent locations”.
    “Thereby the face-to-face deployment which was there and because of which there could have been chances of miscalculation has now receded. Now there is relative peace and tranquility in the LAC,” he stated.
    Senior navy commanders met for the tenth spherical of talks on February 20 to debate disengagement from different friction factors and eventual de-escalation, however there has not been any progress.

    On the state of affairs with Pakistan, within the wake of the latest joint assertion by Directors General of Military Operation and Indian and Pakistani armies to stick to the ceasefire settlement, Naravane stated, “Terror camps and infrastructure still exist on other side of LoC.”
    “For terrorism to come down, the camps have to get dismantled,” he stated, including that it’s “only when snow melts will we come to know how serious Pakistan is about dismantling terror infrastructure for putting people across”.

  • Chinese navy says state of affairs in japanese Ladakh ‘eased distinctly’ however silent on additional pullout of troops

    The Chinese navy on Thursday stated the state of affairs at japanese Ladakh has “eased distinctly” due to the joint efforts with India on the disengagement of troops from the Pangong Lake space however gave no indication about when the pull out will happen from the remaining areas alongside the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
    As a results of a sequence of navy and diplomatic talks, the 2 nations had accomplished withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong Lake final month according to an settlement on disengagement.
    But the disengagement is but to happen in remaining areas alongside the LAC. The Indian Army has been pitching for a sooner disengagement course of in areas like Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang to convey down rigidity within the mountainous area.
    At current, China and India have disengaged front-line troops within the Pangong Lake space and each nations have positively commented on the present strikes, Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defence stated at an internet media briefing.
    “Thanks to the joint efforts made by China and India, the state of affairs within the border space has been eased distinctly,? he stated.
    Both sides have agreed to keep up communication by means of navy and diplomatic channels to advertise the settlement of different points within the west part of the China-India boundary, Ren was quoted as saying by the Chinese military-run China Military Online portal.
    Ren was responding to a query on stories quoting the External Affairs Ministry spokesman asking China to finish its navy withdrawal on the remaining friction factors alongside the LAC.

    China hopes the 2 sides can worth the hard-won outcomes, observe the vital consensus reached by the leaders of each nations, preserve dialogue and communication and stabilise the state of affairs in opposition to relapse, regularly coming to options that may be accepted by the 2 nations to collectively preserve peace within the border space, he stated.
    The border standoff between the Indian and Chinese armies erupted on May 5 final 12 months following a violent conflict within the Pangong Lake space and each side regularly enhanced their deployment by dashing in tens of 1000’s of troopers in addition to heavy weaponry.

  • We have been resolute, robust about defending our pursuits: Jaishankar on border subject

    India was robust and resolute when it got here to dealing with the border subject and handled it in an efficient method, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated on Friday in an obvious reference to the standoff between India and China.
    Similarly, India additionally dealt successfully with the COVID-19 pandemic and its financial influence by fashioning its personal response after listening to everybody, he stated on the inaugural session of the “Asia Economic Dialogue” organised by the Pune International Centre.
    “Last year, we had three big developments which all impacted us nationally. They impacted the world as well — one was COVID-19, the second was its economic impact and the third was the challenges that we found on our border which obviously had implications,” the External Affairs Minister stated.
    “In each of these cases, I would assert to you that they were difficult challenges. There were a lot of debates as indeed there should be, there were tough decisions, lot of second guessing and a lot of free advice given around. I would say, as a government we listened to everything and then we did what we thought was the right thing to do,” he asserted in his remarks through the session titled “Resilient Global Growth in a Post- Pandemic World”.

    Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne additionally participated within the session.
    Elaborating on India’s responses to the three key developments final yr, Jaishankar stated that within the case of the COVID-19 outbreak, the federal government went for an early lockdown, induced a level of social self-discipline and arrange really spectacular well being infrastructure in a really brief house of time.
    “I mean to create 16,000 dedicated centres and to go from zero to becoming an exporter of PPE masks, ventilators and testing kits, I think, frankly, was a very big deal,” he stated.

    Pleasure to take part on the #AsiaEconomicDialogue. Always good to speak with my colleague @MarisePayne. Thank MEA & @PuneIntCentre for organising the partaking dialog on ‘Resilient Global Growth in a Post-Pandemic World’. pic.twitter.com/CepetEyr1u
    — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 26, 2021
    On coping with the financial influence of the COVID-19, he stated that additionally concerned numerous debates however the authorities consciously determined that there was a timing aspect to what needs to be the response and didn’t get pressured into “front loaded stimulus measures”.
    Talking about coping with the border subject confronted by India, Jaishankar, with out naming any nation or going into particulars, stated, “You know again we did what we had to do. There was a very active debate which still continues to this day. It is natural for people to offer advice, often on matters which they may not have particular knowledge of, that is a human trait. But again if there was what came through it was that we were resolute, we were strong about protecting our interests.”
    “And in each case I would suggest to you we thought through a very complicated issue. Listened to everybody but made up our mind and eventually fashioned a response which was effective,” Jaishankar stated.
    The border standoff between the Indian and Chinese armies erupted on May 5 final yr following a violent conflict within the Pangong lake areas and each side step by step enhanced their deployment by dashing in tens of 1000’s of troopers in addition to heavy weaponry at the same time as the 2 sides continued navy and diplomatic talks.
    Last week, armies of the 2 international locations concluded withdrawal of troops and weapons from north and south banks of Pangong Tso within the high-altitude area.
    On resilience within the post-COVID world, Jaishankar stated there are two issues that India must do — “manage home, in the most expansive sense of the word strongly and well, and to contribute more and more abroad”.
    Jaishankar additionally defined the federal government’s resolve to construct an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, saying step one in it’s “thinking it through for yourself and not letting others push you and pressure you”.
    Underlining that the federal government has undertaken “deep reforms”, Jaishankar stated the COVID interval was not only a well being response interval, however was additionally a interval which authorities used to style new insurance policies and push by means of what have been much-needed reforms which earlier governments have been reluctant to take whether or not in agriculture, labour or schooling.
    Plenty of that mindset is mirrored within the finances introduced by the federal government earlier this month, he stated.
    Looking forward, Jaishankar stated, “First of all going back to 1992 is not the answer. My sense is if you do not build more capabilities at home, openness by itself is not a solution for the society as it just means leaving oneself wide open to other people who may have far more predatory practices.”

    “It is very important to be strong at home, to build capabilities at home,” Jaishankar stated.
    “We cannot be politically agnostic when we look at the world,” he added.

  • Disengagement of India, China armies win-win scenario for each side: Army chief

    The disengagement of armies of India and China from north and south banks of Pangong Tso is a “very good end result” and a win-win scenario for each the edges, Army Chief Gen M M Naravane stated on Wednesday, stressing that there are methods in place to handle different pending points in jap Ladakh.
    He stated there have been no indicators of an “overt collusion” between China and Pakistan through the Ladakh standoff however India additionally caters to a long run technique for not a two, however a two-and-half entrance warfare. With the half entrance, he was referring to the interior safety.
    He stated proper from the start of the standoff, all sides on the Indian aspect labored collectively.
    Be it on the political stage, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to their Chinese counterparts, he stated.

    “We were all in it together. We had our plan chalked out which we had discussed on what should be the way forward. Whatever has panned out, has happened as a result of that. What we have achieved so far is very good,” Naravane stated at a webinar organised by Vivekanada International Foundation.

    The recommendation which was given by National Security Adviser additionally got here in extraordinarily useful and his perception into strategic stage affairs undoubtedly helped us chalking out the response, the Army chief stated.
    “As a result of this whole approach, this disengagement has taken place. I think it is a very good end result. It is a win-win situation. For any agreement to last, both sides should feel that they have achieved something. I think a good outcome that has resulted out of the 10 rounds of talks which have taken place so far,” he stated.
    Last week, armies of the 2 nations concluded withdrawal of troops and weapons from north and south banks of Pangong Tso within the high-altitude area. Naravane stated there are some points which stay within the space of Depsang, within the space of jap Ladakh and in different areas alongside northern border.

    “…But we have our strategies in place for that. Do we have anything to negotiate in future? Yes, definitely we have. But I would not, of course, for obvious reasons, what those strategies would be to further and progress our negotiations and come out with a favourable outcome.”

  • Pangong disengagement commences, Rajnath says subsequent talks to concentrate on different friction factors

    Chinese and Indian armoured models have began disengaging south of Pangong Tso as a primary step in direction of resolving the nine-month navy standoff alongside the Line of Actual Control in jap Ladakh.
    As a part of the method, Chinese troops will pull again from Finger 4 to east of Finger 8 on the Pangong north financial institution – they’d are available in 8 km west of Finger 8 which India says marks the LAC. Indian troops can be stationed at Dhan Singh Thapa Post close to Finger 3. For the time being, the stretch separating them can be a no-patrolling zone.
    Confirming the beginning of the method on the north and south banks of Pangong Tso, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh instructed each Houses of Parliament Thursday that China and India have reached an settlement below which “both sides will cease their forward deployments in a phased, coordinated and verified manner”.
    Referring to the opposite friction factors in Galwan Valley, Hot Springs, Gogra Post and Depsang Plains, the place troops of the 2 international locations are nonetheless in a faceoff, Singh mentioned: “I want to assure this House that in these talks we have not conceded anything. 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.”

    Indian Army and PLA disengagement course of at South Pangong Tso pic.twitter.com/9SSrskjxKc
    — The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) February 11, 2021
    “We have agreed that both sides should achieve complete disengagement at the earliest and abide fully by the bilateral agreements and protocols. By now, the Chinese side is also fully aware of our resolve. It is therefore our expectation that the Chinese side will work with us in full sincerity to resolve these remaining issues.”
    His assertion in Parliament got here a day after the Chinese Defence Ministry introduced the beginning of the Pangong disengagement course of.
    Singh instructed Parliament that implementation of the settlement started Wednesday. “It has also been agreed to convene the next meeting of the Senior Commanders within 48 hours after the complete disengagement in the Pangong Lake area so as to address and resolve all other remaining issues.”

    “The Chinese side will keep its troop presence in the North Bank area to east of Finger 8. Reciprocally, the Indian troops will be based at their permanent base at Dhan Singh Thapa Post near Finger 3. A similar action would be taken in the South Bank area by both sides. These are mutual and reciprocal steps and any structures that had been built by both sides since April 2020 in both North and South Bank area will be removed and the landforms will be restored.”
    “It has also been agreed to have a temporary moratorium on military activities by both sides in the North Bank, including patrolling to the traditional areas. Patrolling will be resumed only when both sides reach an agreement in diplomatic and military talks that would be held subsequently. The implementation of this agreement has started yesterday in the North and South Bank of the Pangong Lake. It will substantially restore the situation to that existing prior to commencement of the standoff last year,” he mentioned.
    Recalling his September 2020 assertion within the House the place “I had highlighted that the Chinese side had since April/May 2020 amassed large number of troops and armaments in the border areas adjacent to Eastern Ladakh” and the way they’d “made several attempts to transgress the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in various parts,” Singh mentioned: “Since last September, both sides have maintained communication with each other through military and diplomatic channels. Our objective was to effect disengagement and maintain status quo along the LAC so as to restore peace and tranquility.”

    “The actions by the Chinese side since last year have seriously disturbed peace and tranquility. Consequently, they have also had an impact on the overall relationship. In our various high-level interactions with the Chinese side, including in my own meeting with the Chinese Defence Minister last September, my colleague, the External Affairs Minister Shri Jaishankarji’s meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister and NSA Shri Doval’s conversation with his Chinese counterpart, we have made it clear that the foremost need was to ensure disengagement in all the friction points along the LAC in the Western Sector so as to help restore peace and tranquility.”

    “I am proud to say that our Armed Forces have responded to the challenges posed by the unilateral Chinese action and have shown valour and courage on both South and North bank of Pangong Tso. Many strategically important points were identified and our troops positioned themselves at those Hill Tops and at locations which were very important from our point of view. It is because of this great bravery of our Armed Forces in the face of harsh adverse climatic conditions that we maintained the edge.”
    On the diplomatic and navy talks with China, Singh mentioned: “In these discussions, we have maintained the three key principles that determine our approach: (i) both sides should strictly respect and observe the LAC; (ii) neither side should attempt to alter the status quo unilaterally; and (iii) all agreements and understandings between the two sides must be fully abided by in their entirety. To ensure disengagement in friction points along the LAC, it was our view that troops of both sides, who are now in close proximity, should vacate the forward deployments made in 2020 and return to the permanent and accepted bases.”
    “Our approach and strategy for negotiations with the Chinese side has been guided at the highest level by the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s resolve that we will not give even an inch of Indian territory. Our tenacity and approach during talks have yielded results,” he mentioned.

    Praising the armed forces, Singh mentioned: “Our nation will always remember the sacrifices made by our brave soldiers which has been the foundation of this disengagement at Pangong Tso.”
    “I am confident that this entire House, irrespective of political affiliations, is united together for upholding our sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and national security. And further, this House is one in sending out the same message demonstrating the strength and unity of our nation to the entire world,” he mentioned.