India-China Border Row: After First Phase Disengagement At Pangong Tso, Tenth Round Of Military Level Talks On Saturday

New Delhi: As the first phase of disengagement process between Indian Army and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in eastern Ladakh has been completed in Pangong Tso region, military delegations from both the sides will hold tenth round of commander-level talks on Saturday. As per reports, India and China military delegates, in during the talks, will discuss disengagement at other friction places at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh. ALSO READ | China Releases Video Of Galwan Valley Clash After Officially Accepting PLA Casualties

The meeting, which was scheduled to happen 48 hours within the first phase of disengagement, will take place at around 10 am on February 20 at Moldo on the Chinese side. Both sides will reportedly discussion other friction areas like Hot Springs, Gogra and 900 square km Depsang Plains.

During the talks, 8 year old Depsang escalation is also likely to be discussed as India has insisted the Chinese side, during recently conducted military commander meetings, to solve all issues across the Line of Actual Control. “The initial attempt will be to resolve Gogra and Hot Springs. Finding a solution to Depsang might be tricky and take longer,” news agency IANS quoted an official as saying. 

The representatives from both side, during the tenth round of “corps commander level” meet, will also verify the status of disengagement at northern and southern banks of Pangong Tso Lake. On February 10, China made an announcement that New Delhi and Beijing have agreed to disengage at Pangong Lake.

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According to senior government officer, both sides are physically verifying and re-verifying disengagement at Pangong Lake. “It is a joint inspection team, both from Indian Army and Chinese PLA,” the officer said. 

As per the agreement between India and China, PLA troops will move back its troops to Finger 8, while Indian Army will pull back soldiers to the Dhan Singh Thapa post between Finger 2 and 3 of the north bank of Pangong Tso. There would also be a temporary moratorium on military activities, including patrolling to the traditional areas.

Earlier in the day, China for the first time officially accepted that 4 PLA soldiers were killed in the fierce clash with Indian Army at Galwan Valley region of eastern Ladakh in July 2020. China also released a video in which soldiers from both side can be seen clashing with each other.