Indian and Chinese military commanders on
Monday held talks to discuss the ongoing stand-off between their
troops on a disputed Himalayan frontier, a week after 20 Indian
soldiers were killed in a clash with Chinese forces in the region.
The discussions led by area commanders of the rank of lieutenant
general took place at the high-altitude meeting point in Ladakh at
Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control, Indian army
sources said.
This was the second high-level military meeting since June 6, when
India and China agreed to pull back troops in attempts to de-escalate
after weeks of tension.
The generals were resuming discussions on the disengagement process,
that was stalled by the worst-ever confrontation between the Indian
and Chinese armies in 45 years.
On June 15, 20 Indian soldiers were killed and another 76 reportedly
injured in Ladakh's Galwan valley following deadly hand-to-hand
combat with Chinese troops.
More than 40 Chinese soldiers were killed or injured, Indian media
reported, although China has not released any such information.
India has accused China of sending thousands of troops into the
Galwan valley region and alleges China occupies 38,000 square
kilometers of its territory in northern Ladakh. It has also rejected
China's claim over the Galwan valley.
Several rounds of talks have failed to settle the boundary disputes
between the nuclear-armed Asian giants.
Foreign ministers of Russia, India and China are to participate in a
meeting Tuesday amid reports that Moscow could play a mediating role
in calming India-China tensions.
An Indian fighter jet flies over a mountain range near Leh, the joint capital of the union territory of Ladakh. AFP