India and China hold 11th round of military talks; focus on further disengagement in eastern Ladakh

India and China have held the 11th round of military talks to focus on further disengagement in eastern Ladakh, at the friction points of Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang.

New Delhi: India and China have held another round of military talks on Friday to take forward the disengagement process in the remaining friction points such as Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang in eastern Ladakh, people familiar with the development said.

The 11th round of the Corps Commander-level talks began at around 10:30 am at the Chushul border point on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, they said.

The 10th round of the military dialogue had been held on February 20, two days after both militaries concluded the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of the Pangong Tso or Pangong Lake. The talks lasted for around 16 hours.

The Indian delegation for Friday's talks is being led by Lieutenant General PGK Menon, the Commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps. India will insist on completing the disengagement process at the remaining friction points at the earliest.

Late last month, Army chief General MM Naravane said the threat to India has only "abated" following the disengagement in the Pangong lake areas, but it has not gone away altogether.

The border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5 last following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.

As a result of this, a series of military and diplomatic talks were held and eventually the two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of the Pangong lake in February, in line with an agreement on disengagement.

India has been insisting on the resolution of the outstanding issues, including at Depsang, Hot Springs and Gogra as essential for the overall ties between the two countries.

(PTI)