India on Friday said situation is “not normal” at the border in eastern Ladakh and talks with China to ease tension are moving at “a slower pace than desirable.” The disengagement of troops from both sides is a must for de-escalation and continuing dialogue is “work in progress,” it said.
India raised these concerns during the three-hour long meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. It was the first visit by a Chinese Minister to New Delhi since trouble erupted at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh nearly two years ago. At present, more than 50,000 troops each from both the sides are facing each other at some friction points at the LAC leading to heightened tension.
Wang’s visit signaled a possible thaw in the stalemate. Asked if any timeline was agreed upon for disengagement and de-escalation along the LAC, Jaishankar said, “There was no timeline… A parallel but a separate discussion took place in regard to sorting out the situation in border areas.” Giving details of his delegation-level talks with the Chinese Minister, Jaishankar told the media the current situation between India and China on the eastern Ladakh issue is “a work in progress” but moving at a “slower pace than desirable.” Read More…
