India, China commit to peace during talks

India and China Army officials take salutes before the meeting in Eastern Ladakh on Monday.
India and China Army officials take salutes before the meeting in Eastern Ladakh on Monday.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 1: Few days after transgressions by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, India and China today committed themselves to peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and enhancing the existing cordial relations between the two countries.
The decision for maintaining peace along the LAC was taken by the troops of two neighbours during two meetings held today at Border Meeting Points (BMPs) in Chushul and Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) sectors of Eastern Ladakh.
The occasion was People’s Liberation Army Day.
Official sources told the Excelsior that at both the sectors (Chushul and DBO), the delegations of Indian and Chinese troops had detailed inter-action on the situation prevailing along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh, where the two nations shared un-demarcated LAC.
However, for the past quite some time now, there has been no incursions or transgressions or any other kind of untoward incident between the Sino-Indian troops though such incidents had almost become a route about a couple of years back in different parts of Eastern Ladakh.
The Army officers of India and China, according to sources, decided to go ahead with similar kind of friendship and commitment towards enhancing the existing cordial relations and maintaining peace along the LAC, which, they observed, was in best interest of the two countries.
Inter-acting in free, congenial and cordial environment, the Sino-Indian Army officials sought to build on the mutual feeling up uphold treaties and agreements signed between the Governments of India and China from time to time for maintaining peace and tranquility along the LAC.
Sources said there was complete harmony between the two sides as they inter-acted for more than two hours and discussed various issues faced by the two sides in Eastern Ladakh, where India and China shared the un-demarcated LAC, which earlier used to lead to certain disputes with both sides staking claim over the land.
Few days back, there had been transgression by the Chinese troops in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, which had preceded by the air sorties by the PLA. However, the Chinese troops had retreated after few hours.
India and China share 4057 kilometers LAC in Eastern Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
Recently, Army had reiterated its demand for operation control over Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), which is in forefront of the LAC with China in all five States, for better management of the LAC.
Earlier, a ceremonial Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) on the occasion of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Day was conducted today at Chinese BPM Hut in Moldo Garrison in Chushul sector of Eastern Ladakh and TWD (Ten Wen Den) in DBO (Daulat Beg Oldie), Defence spokesperson (MoD) Col SD Goswami said.
He said the delegations at the DBO were led by Brigadier Navneet Kumar from the Indian side and Senior Colonel Fan Jun from the Chinese side. At TWD, the Garrisons were led by Colonel BS Uppal from the Indian side and Colonel Song Zhou Li from the Chinese side.
Col Goswami said the ceremonial border personal meetings were marked by saluting the National flag of China by both the delegation members. This was followed by the ceremonial address by the delegation leaders which comprised of exchange of greetings, wishes and vote of thanks and reflected the mutual desire of maintaining and improving relations at functional level at the border. Thereafter, a cultural programme showcasing vibrant Chinese culture and traditional grandeur was organized.