India, China hold fresh high-level military talks over Ladakh dispute
PTC News Desk: India and China held a new round of high-level military talks to resolve the over three-and-a-half-year eastern Ladakh dispute, with both sides agreeing to maintain "peace and tranquillity" on the ground, but there was no sign of a breakthrough.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Wednesday that the 21st round of India-China corps commander-level meetings was held at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on February 19.
The Indian side pressed for resolution of the lingering issues at Depsang and Demchok, according to people familiar with the situation, but there was no tangible progress in the talks.
According to the MEA, the two sides agreed to communicate about the next steps through the appropriate military and diplomatic channels.
"The discussions built on the previous rounds, seeking complete disengagement in the remaining areas along the LAC (Line of Actual Control) in eastern Ladakh as an essential basis for the restoration of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas," the ministry said in a statement.
The MEA stated that the two sides discussed this in a "friendly and cordial" atmosphere.
"The two sides have agreed to maintain communication on the way ahead through the relevant military and diplomatic mechanisms. They also committed to maintain peace and tranquillity on the ground in the border areas in the interim," it further stated.
China's Ministry of National Defence announced in Beijing that the two militaries have agreed to maintain communication on current border issues.
According to the report, the talks took place at the Moldo-Chushul border on the Chinese side.
The two sides engaged in positive, in-depth, and constructive communication to resolve border issues of mutual concern, according to the statement.
According to the Chinese readout, both sides agreed to continue communication through military and diplomatic channels, guided by the important consensus of the two countries' leaders, in order to reach an acceptable solution as soon as possible and "turn the page" on the border situation.
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