12th round of India-China military talks to take place today in Moldo along LAC
During the 11th round of talks, China had refused to pull back its troops from Hot Springs and Gogra Post which, along with Depsang Plains, remain the friction points between the two sides.
India and China will hold the 12th round of Corps Commander-level talks at Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on Saturday to iron out an agreement for the next phase of disengagement in Eastern Ladakh. “The talks will begin at 10.30 am,” said a military source.
The development comes just two days after the Chinese Ambassador to India claimed that troops of both sides have “disengaged” from friction points in Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso lake areas.
India and China have been locked in a military standoff at multiple friction points in eastern Ladakh since early May last year.
On February 20, the two sides had held the 10th round of military dialogue to de-escalate tension along Line of Actual Control. China has been enhancing military infrastructure across the LAC for some time now. Looking at it, India has changed its posture towards China, and unlike its previous defensive approach that placed a premium on fending on Chinese aggression, India is now catering military options to strike back and has reoriented its forces accordingly.
During the 11th round of talks, China had refused to pull back its troops from Hot Springs and Gogra Post which, along with Depsang Plains, remain the friction points between the two sides. Indian and Chinese troops had disengaged on the north and south banks of Pangong Tso and the Kailash range in February.
Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat had earlier this month said that India and China must achieve status quo in eastern Ladakh in the best interests of bringing back peace in the region.
“All I would say that keep your guard up, remain prepared; do not take things lightly. We must also be prepared for any misadventure and respond accordingly. We have responded in the past and will do so in the future,” CDS Rawat said on July 2.
