India, China hold talks to resolve border standoff

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) - India and China are holding a fresh round of corps commander-level talks in the high-altitude Himalayan region of Ladakh, where the countries have been in a standoff since May 2020.

The 15th round of talks between the Corps Commanders of India and China started Friday morning on the Indian side of the Chushul-Moldo border personnel meeting point and continued until late evening, leading Indian daily The Indian Express said.

The Indian delegation was led by Lt. Gen Anindya Sengupta, while the delegation from the China side was headed by Maj. Gen. Yang Lin, commander of the South Xinjiang Military District, the newspaper said.

Quoting sources from the Indian security establishment, the report said: “They were also hopeful of reaching an understanding to reduce the number of additional troops and weapons positioned in the region by both sides."

The Indian Defense Ministry has yet to issue a statement on the fresh round of talks.

Since May 2020, the two countries have been locked in a standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) – the de facto border between China and India in the disputed territory of Ladakh.

In June 2020, at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers were killed in a border clash.

In the 14th round of talks this January, a joint statement said both sides "had a frank and in-depth exchange of views for the resolution of the relevant issues along the LAC in the Western Sector."

During the 13th round of talks last October, both sides blamed each other for the unsuccessful talks.

Tensions at the border have eased after several rounds of talks, but no complete resolution has been reached, and both sides have beefed up their military deployment at the border.

Last August, both sides agreed to "disengagement" in the area of Gogra, Ladakh.