‘Withdrawal of forces from Pangong region towards resolution of other issues …

New Delhi
India and China said in a joint statement on Sunday after the 10th round of military talks that the military withdrawal from the Pangong Lake region is an important step towards resolving other issues along the Line of Actual Control in the western sector. The statement said that the two sides also agreed to maintain a consensus between their leaders, to continue their dialogue and contact, to stabilize and control the situation on the ground and to resolve the remaining issues in a balanced and systematic manner.

The statement comes after a 16-hour tenth round of core commander-level talks between the two countries that began at 10 am on Saturday and lasted until 2 pm in the Moldo Point area on the Line of Actual Control towards China. The statement said, “The two sides positively informed each other about the smooth completion of the withdrawal of frontline troops from the Pangong Lake area and noted that it was on the Line of Actual Control in the western sector.” An important step towards the resolution of issues.

It said, “They (both sides) have widely exchanged views on other issues related to LAC in the western sector”. The tenth round of military level talks took place two days after the two countries removed their troops and armaments from the northern and southern end regions of the Pangong Lake region. In the talks, India is believed to have stressed the early withdrawal of troops from the Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang areas to reduce tensions.

Sources said on Saturday evening that reducing tension in the region was the top priority of the talks. India has always insisted that military withdrawal from all points of tension is necessary to reduce tensions in the region. The military standoff erupted after a violent clash between the armies of the two countries in the Pangong Lake area on May 5 last year. The two countries deployed tens of thousands of soldiers and heavy weapons under tension. Diplomatic and military level talks were also held continuously between the two sides.