New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday reviewed India's overall military preparedness in eastern Ladakh and several other areas along the Line of Actual Control in Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh even as Chinese and Indian armies held another round of Major General-level talks on the current border standoff, official sources said.
The defence minister was given a detailed account on the overall situation in eastern Ladakh by Army Chief Gen MM Naravane at a high-level meeting which was also attended by Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh and Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, they said.
The Indian and Chinese armies are locked in an over five-week standoff in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie. The two sides have deployed additional troops along the LAC in North Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh following the standoff.
It is understood that Singh told the top military brass to continue to deal with the situation in eastern Ladakh and other areas with firmness.
"The defence minister carried out a comprehensive review of the situation in eastern Ladakh," said a senior official on condition of anonymity.
Military sources said the two armies held another round of Major General-level talks on Friday to find a way out to defuse tension in eastern Ladakh.
India on Thursday said it is maintaining military and diplomatic engagements with China to peacefully resolve the row at the earliest.
In their first serious efforts to end the row, Lt General Harinder Singh, the general officer commanding of Leh-based 14 Corps, and Commander of the Tibet Military District Maj Gen Liu Lin held a nearly seven-hour meeting on June 6.
In the next one week, the field commanders of the two sides are slated to hold a series of meetings to discuss specific measures to defuse the tension.
On Wednesday, the two sides held Major General-level talks in an positive atmosphere with an aim to end the bitter tussle.