Noting that the disengagement of frontline troops in the Pangong Tso area was a significant step forward for the resolution of issues in other areas in the Western Sector, India and China, at the 10th Corps Commander talks, agreed to push for a mutually acceptable solution for the remaining issues.

“The two sides agreed to follow the important consensus of their state leaders, continue their communication and dialogue, stabilise and control the situation on the ground, push for a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues in a steady and orderly manner, so as to jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas,” a joint statement on the talks held on Saturday said.

The Corps Commanders had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on other issues along the Line of Actual Control in the Western Sector, the statement said. The two sides positively appraised the “smooth completion” of disengagement of frontline troops in the Pangong Lake area and said that it provided a “good basis” for resolution of other remaining issues in the Western Sector.

The talks began at 10 a.m. and went on till 2 a.m., a government source said.

With the disengagement now complete on the north and south banks of Pangong Tso, the focus of the talks was to work out a phased disengagement plan for the other friction areas in eastern Ladakh. These include Gogra, Hot Springs, Depsang and Demchok.

At the first Corps Commander talks last June, both sides had mutually agreed and identified five friction areas — Patrolling Points (PP) 14 at Galwan, PP15 and 17 at Gogra and Hotsprings, North bank of Pangong Tso and Chushul. Despite the violent clash at Galwan on June 15, the disengagement there has been completed, while partial disengagement was done at PP15 and PP17A.

However, in end of August, tensions flared on the south bank of Pangong Tso, with the Army occupying several dominating peaks on the Indian side of the LAC lying vacant since 1962.

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