New Delhi
India and China on Friday agreed to maintain dialogue and communication to reach a mutually acceptable solution for complete disengagement in all friction points along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh to enable progress in the overall bilateral ties.
The two countries agreed to this as they held another round of diplomatic talks to resolve the prolonged border standoff in eastern Ladakh that erupted in early May last year.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the two sides agreed to hold the 12th round of military talks at an early date to achieve the objective of complete disengagement from all the friction points along the LAC in the western sector in accordance with the existing bilateral pacts and protocols.
The diplomatic talks took place under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC).
The MEA said the two sides had a frank exchange of views on the situation along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.
“Both sides agreed on the need to find an early resolution to the remaining issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh keeping in view of the agreement reached between the two Foreign Ministers in September 2020,” it said.
“In this regard, the two sides agreed to maintain dialogue and communication through the diplomatic and military mechanisms to reach a mutually acceptable solution for complete disengagement from all friction points so as to ensure full restoration of peace and tranquillity to enable progress in the bilateral relations," the MEA said.
“The two sides agreed to hold the next round of the Senior Commanders meeting at an early date to achieve the objective of complete disengagement from all the friction points along the LAC in the Western Sector in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements and protocols,” it added.
IAF chief: Keep operational readiness at highest level
Air chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria has lauded the Western Air Command (WAC) for its swift response in the face of the bitter border standoff with China in eastern Ladakh and directed it to keep the operational readiness at the "highest level", officials said on Friday.
The Chief of Air Staff was addressing a 2-day conference of the top commanders of the WAC which looks after the security of the country’s air space in the sensitive Ladakh sector as well as various other parts of north India. In his remarks, Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria directed the commanders to ensure the operational readiness of all platforms, weapon systems and assets are kept at the “highest level", they said.
The commanders deliberated extensively on security challenges facing the country along the northern border during the deliberations that concluded on Friday.
Naravane visits Shimla training command of Army
Army Chief Gen MM Naravane visited the Army’s training command in Shimla where he was apprised of steps taken to make professional military education more contemporary and responsive to the current challenges. Gen Naravane was briefed on initiatives like technological infusion in training of troops considering future battlefield scenarios. “The Chief of Army Staff was briefed on issues including strategic-military futures, doctrinal corrections, operational challenges and preparedness, technological infusion and training pedagogy.”
