New Delhi: A day after the Indian Army noted that it had patrolled one of the five points at Depsang in Eastern Ladakh, The Tribune has reported that military talks between India and China to work out the modalities of patrols have reached a deadlock over the “extent and routes of patrolling” at Depsang.
The Army’s 14 Corps had said on X that after the consensus was reached between the Indian and Chinese sides for disengagement and resumption of patrolling in Depsang and Demchok [in Eastern Ladakh], “the Indian Army patrol to one of the patrolling points in Depsang was successfully conducted today.”
“This is yet another positive step towards maintaining peace and tranquility on the LAC [Line of Actual Control],” the 14 Corps said in a post on X.
The standoff between the two armies began in May 2020, when a skirmish led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers.
The Tribune has cited sources as having said that Chinese military negotiators who are working out the “patrolling arrangements”, have been “dragging their feet” on coordinating the schedule of Indian Army patrols.
The Chinese side has also, reportedly, expressed reservations over the extent of patrolling.
The reopening of patrolling was announced on October 21 by foreign secretary Vikram Misri, ahead of prime minister Narendra Modi meeting Chinese president Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Brics summit in Russia.
China has, according to Tribune, expressed reservations about the Indian Army going full extent on the patrol points’ 10 and 11 routes.
It also has reservations about the distance which the Indian army can patrol on patrol points 11A, 12 and 13.
