Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 14: As Sino-Indian troops standoff in Burtse area along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh today entered into fourth day, the two sides agreed to hold Sector Commanders level flag meeting this week but the date hasn’t been finalized as yet even as the Defence Ministry asked the troops to stick to their ground and don’t retreat till the last Chinese soldier withdraws.
Official sources told the Excelsior that both sides held on to their ground in Burtse in Northern Ladakh along the LAC for fourth consecutive day but without any headway as much awaited flag meeting between the two sides didn’t mature. The flag meeting between Sector Commanders of the two sides could take place this week to resolve the deadlock.
According to sources, the two Armies were awaiting nod of the senior authorities of their countries before holding the flag meeting as this was for the first time when the Indian Government has taken firm stand against the Chinese incursions and Army dismantled their watch tower, which was being constructed about 500 meters inside the Indian territory.
The Indian Army has linked the return of camera and other material of the Chinese watch tower to the return of about 90 soldiers of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to their original position, sources said, adding the PLA jawans were frustrated as they were meeting stiff resistance from the Indian troops, who have categorically refused to return their cameras and other material till they retreat.
Sources confirmed that the Defence Ministry has asked the troops to firmly hold their positions on the LAC and make sure that the PLA retreats. It has given go ahead to the troops for the Sector Commander level meeting also to resolve the dispute as and when asked for by the PLA.
India has increased presence of the troops on its side yesterday as there was no let up in the standoff between the two sides. The paramilitary Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has also increased its presence behind the Army along the LAC.
Sources said China continued to maintain that there is no stand-off between the People’s Liberation Army and Indian troops on the India-China border.
“As far as I know, there is no such face off in the border area. Chinese troops are performing their duties on the Chinese side of the border,” Hong Lei, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said at the regular briefing in Beijing on Monday.
Sources here said Hong seemed to confirm that China may have actually started building the watch tower within its own territory when he said that his country is entitled to carry out “relevant activities” on its side of the border.
“Chinese border troops are carrying out relevant activities on the Chinese side, and we are committed to maintain peace and tranquility in the border area,” he claimed.
Hong explaining that India-China relations are “enjoying sound momentum” since leaders of the two countries reached an “important consensus for maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas”.
Sources said officials on the two sides adroitly have built a mechanism for cross-border consultation to avoid any dispute among border personnel since the meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping early this year.
“Questions are being asked if the border consultation mechanism is working on the ground in view of latest Chinese incursion in Burtse area along the LAC in Ladakh,’’ sources pointed out referring to the statement of Hong.
According to sources, the Indian authorities were hopeful that the situation will not aggravate further and the issues will be resolved in the Sector Commanders’ meeting, which could take place any time this week.
Sources said the Defence Ministry and the Union Home Ministry were monitoring the situation very closely from New Delhi. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Home Minister Rajnath Singh were in regular touch with Army and ITBP officials respectively.
Northern Army Commander Lt Gen D S Hooda has already briefed Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag about the situation after obtaining detailed reports from General Officer Commanding (GOC) Leh based 14 Corps Lt Gen SK Patyal. The ITBP Commanders have given detailed report on the situation to the Union Home Minister.
The construction was done by the PLA to claim that the area belonged to them. This area is adjacent to Depsang plains where PLA had pitched camps in April, 2013 that had led to a three-week long stalemate.
China has been trying to make inroads in Burtse area as it will give access to the PLA to monitor the activities of Indian troops based in Old Patol base besides trying to deny an advantage to India to overlook the Karakoram highway linking the territory illegally occupied by China with Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir(PoK).
Besides, India has an Advanced Ground Landing (AGL) facility in Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) which was activated in August 2013 and the Indian Air Force (IAF) had managed to land a C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft at the air strip located at 16,614 feet above sea level.
The initial existence of a hut was seen first on a satellite imagery after which a joint patrol of ITBP and Army was sent to the area to have a report from ground zero. Later, it was decided to demolish the hut which prompted Chinese PLA to reach the area resulting in the face-off.
Indian troops displayed the banners in Chinese asking the PLA to return to their side, the sources said.
India and China share over 4,000 kilometers of LAC. China claims approximately 90,000 sq km of territory in Arunachal Pradesh besides 38,000 sq kilometers in Jammu and Kashmir sector.
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