India, China discuss early disengagement of troops

An “early and complete disengagement of troops”
at points of friction along the border
is key to restoring normal ties between the two countries.

NEW DELHI: National Security Adviser Ajit Doval has told visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that an “early and complete disengagement of troops” at points of friction along the border is key to restoring normal ties between the two countries.

Mr Doval also called for removing “impediments” to allow bilateral ties to “take the natural course” and stressed that “actions should not violate the spirit of equal and mutual security”.

The Chinese Foreign Minister arrived in Delhi last evening. This is the first visit by a senior Chinese minister and the highest-level talks between India and China since the military standoff in Ladakh began two years ago.

Mr Doval told Wang that the “continuation of the present situation” is not in mutual interest and that restoring peace and tranquillity would help build mutual trust and create and enabling environment for progress in relations, sources said.

The two countries “need to continue positive interactions at diplomatic and military levels for restoration of peace and tranquillity, which is a prerequisite for normalisation,” Mr Doval reportedly told the Chinese Foreign Minister.

The two sides discussed working in the same direction and resolving outstanding issues as quickly as possible, said sources, and the need for “maturity and sincerity” in handling ties.

The Chinese delegation also invited NSA Ajit Doval to visit China to take forward the mandate of Special Representatives. To this, Mr Doval responded positively and stated that he could visit after immediate issues are resolved successfully between the two sides.

Following his meeting with Mr Doval, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar for talks at Delhi’s Hyderabad House.

India and China have been holding high-level military talks to resolve the face-off in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh. Both sides had withdrawn troops from some of the friction points following talks at military and diplomatic levels.

On March 11, India and China held the 15th round of high-level military dialogue to resolve the pending issues in the eastern Ladakh region. However, there was no forward movement in the talks which were aimed at resolving the remaining issues.

The standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas.