India-China Way forward to resolve LAC situation is to refrain from unilaterally changing status quo: India warns China
New Delhi/IBNS: India on Thursday said the way forward to resolve the conflicts with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the de facto border between the two countries, is to avoid misunderstandings and refrain from unilaterally changing the status quo.
Speaking in the wake of the 6th meeting of Senior Commanders of India and China that took place on Sept 21 in Moldo, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Anurag Srivastava in a virtual media briefing said: "As we have pointed out earlier, disengagement is a complex process that requires redeployment of troops by each side towards their regular posts on their respective sides of the LAC. This would require mutually agreed reciprocal actions."
"Even as two sides work towards complete disengagement in all friction areas, it is at the same time also necessary to ensure stability on the ground. The latest Senior Commander’s meeting should be seen in all this overall context," he said.
Srivastava mentioned that the 6th meeting gave the Senior Commanders an opportunity to have candid and in-depth exchanges of views on stabilizing the situation along the LAC.
"The two sides have also decided to strengthen the ground communication to avoid any further misunderstandings and misjudgments, stop sending more troops to the frontline, refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground, and avoid taking any actions that may complicate the situation," he said.
"The way ahead will be to refrain from making any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo, while the two sides continue their discussions to achieve complete disengagement in all friction areas and to ensure full restoration of peace and tranquility in the border areas," Srivastava said in a note of warning.
In this regard, the two sides have also decided to have the next meeting of the Senior Commanders at the earliest. In parallel, the next meeting of the WMCC is also likely to take place soon.
India and China have been engaged into border standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh since early May.
In a deadly clash in 40 years, at least 20 Indian personnel were martyred at Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Jun 15 night.
As per unconfirmed reports, at least 40 Chinese soldiers were killed but the Asian country did not disclose any figure in terms of casualties on its side.
