‘Enhanced understanding’ at Chushul may spur India-China troop cutback

Despite the tepidity in the talks there was nevertheless a tacit understanding that reduction in the number of troops may be brought about in the depth areas, writes senior journalist Sanjib Kr Baruah

New Delhi:With a very harsh winter well on its way, the talks between Indian and Chinese top military and diplomatic officials on Monday in eastern Ladakh’s Chushul lasted more than a marathon 11 hours and yielded little. But despite the tepidity, there were some gains.

“While both sides were resigned to the fact that the military engagement will last through the winter for which preparations are near complete, there was nevertheless a tacit understanding that reduction in the number of troops may be brought about in the depth areas,” an official source familiar with the developments told ETV Bharat.

“But there is no time-frame nor any hurry and rush to do it now. There is also a realisation that a permanent settlement at a higher level can resolve the border issue.”

A joint statement issued on Tuesday said of Monday’s talks: “The two sides had a sincere, in-depth and constructive exchange of views on disengagement along the LAC in the western sector of India-China border areas. They were of the view that these discussions were positive, constructive and had enhanced understanding of each other’s positions.”

Significantly, the statement also said that both sides agreed to “earnestly implement the important understandings reached by the leaders of the two countries” in an apparent reference to the PM Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping meetings.

Modi and Xi had met in bilateral ‘informal’ summits at Wuhan (April 27-28, 2018) and Mamallapuram (October 12, 2019).

Both leaders are expected to meet again during the 12th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Summit that will be chaired by Russia and will be held virtually on November 17.

Since April-May, India and China have deployed more than 100,000 soldiers and military assets along the frontier after a border row that has shown no signs of easing.

Amid fiery exchange of words, propagation of narratives and playing out of optics between the two sides, there has been a flurry of meetings along with established mechanisms between the two Asian giants at the defence minister, foreign minister, special representative, various bureaucratic and military levels which have all failed thus far.

This was the seventh meeting at the level of corps commander that also had representation from senior diplomats from the Indian and Chinese foreign ministries.

While the talks are being navigated by the high-level China Study Group as far as India is concerned, the Indian delegation at the talks included Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, commander, 14 Corps, and Lieutenant General PGK Menon besides Navin Srivastava, the joint secretary in India’s MEA. This is Gen Singh’s last participation at the talks with Gen Menon poised to take over the 14 Corps on Wednesday.