New Delhi: The Indian Army on Tuesday, May 23 said that its stance on the India-China border standoff points has remained consistent, and that it aims to restore patrolling rights to the traditional patrolling points at Depsang, sources told the New Indian Express.
Talks between India and China are underway for troop disengagement in eastern Ladakh both at the diplomatic and military levels.
There are two “friction” points caused by the standoff between the ground forces of the Indian Army and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army – Depsang and Demchok.
The standoff at Depsang is of much significance because it’s a strategically crucial sector. The area out of access, as per the sources, is around 952 sq km, the newspaper reported. These include five patrolling points — 10, 11, 11A, 12, and 13. The Chinese troops have blocked access to all these points.
The five patrolling points, which are located east of the Sub-Sector North road, are close to the LAC, but not located right at the LAC but are located inside the line that marks the Indian territory, it added. The Sub-Sector North consists of Depsang plains and Daulat Beg Oldie.
Depsang is part of Sub-Sector North.
In Sub-Sector North, the terrain is such that a large-scale armour operation is possible. China has multiple roads that connect the country to this area, while India has only the DSDBO Road.
The Indian side emphasised that the process of disengagement from Galwan, Gogra, Hotsprings and the north and south banks of Pangong Tso does not change India’s claim over the alignment of the LAC.
“All disengagements carried out earlier also have been done on the basis of mutual security with no prejudice to LAC claims by either side,” a source told the daily.
ThePrint had in December last year, after the 17th round of talks, reported that both sides have failed to achieve any breakthrough over the issue of de-escalation and Depsang Plains.
That meeting was held days after Chinese troops clashed with Indian soldiers in the Yangtse area of Arunachal Pradesh on 9 December.
