India-China third-round talks remain inconclusive, say sources

The third round of talks held on Tuesday (June 30) to resolve the border dispute between India and China were “inconclusive”, and a few more meetings will be conducted, government sources told NDTV.

“More meetings are expected both at the military and at the diplomatic level, in future, to arrive at a mutually agreeable solution and to ensure peace and tranquility along the LAC as per bilateral agreements and protocols,” NDTV quoted government sources as saying.

However, according to NDTV, the sources also said both sides had emphasised the need for an “expeditious, phased, and step wise de-escalation” as a priority.

The third senior military-level discussion took place in Chusul at the Line of Actual Control, on the Indian side.

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The meeting on Tuesday came as a contrast to the one that took place on June 22, which was reportedly held in a “cordial, positive, and constructive” atmosphere.

The statement issued after the talks on June 22 had read, “There was a mutual consensus to disengage. Modalities for disengagement from all friction areas in Eastern Ladakh were discussed and will be taken forward by both the sides.”

The most recent round of talks also comes after China laid claim to the area in the Fingers region of Ladakh’s Pangong Lake.

Satellite images show a huge Mandarin symbol and map of China inscribed on the ground they had occupied.

Tensions between the two countries intensified after a violent face-off among Indian and Chinese troops on June 15 along the Sino-India border in Galwan Valley, which resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Indian soldiers. China too reportedly lost 45 soldiers. However, the nation has not put out any official figures yet.