LAC stable; India, China working on mutually beneficial deal: Army chief

Army chief MM Narvane has said the situation at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh was stable and militaries of India and China are working out ways to reach an agreement on disengagement at key friction points.

“They are ironing out the modalities of how to proceed ahead within the overarching guidelines which had been communicated post the interactions and the meetings between the respective ministers,” Narvane said referring to the eighth round of senior commander-level discussions between the two armies that took place on November 6.

The army chief made the statement while addressing a seminar on defence and military issues, organised by Bharatshakti.in, a portal on Tuesday (November 10).

Narvane said both the countries are likely to hold another round of military talks to discuss proposals for a possible breakthrough in the disengagement talks.

“The process is on and we are very hopeful that we will be able to reach an agreement which is mutually-acceptable and mutually-beneficial in keeping with this overarching policy guideline which has been passed down to both sides …” he said.

Narvane said Indian soldiers who have been deployed in the sub-zero temperature posts have been provided for and had access to essential supplies as well as latest equipment, clothes and weapons.

Senior commanders of both the armies in the latest round of talks on November 6, discussed disengagement of troops from key friction points, and unanimously decided to take ‘constructive’ steps towards a consensus.

A report in the Indian Express quoting an Army officer said, with the talks achieving no major breakthrough, India is now mulling to consider a new and ‘better’ proposal by China, made during the meeting.

During earlier discussions, China had urged India to leave the heights occupied in the Chushul-Moldo area and the north and south banks of Pangong Tso Lake, a demand that India had refused to accept.

The Indian Army has deployed more than 50,000 combat-ready troops in several locations of Ladakh, to match China’s deployment just across the LAC.