Indo-Pak Armies also join celebrations at LoC
Next round of talks may bring good results
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 1: In a significant development which has the potential of further improvement in relations between the two hostile neighbours, the Sino-Indian troops today exchanged sweets and greetings on New Year at several border posts along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) including Eastern Ladakh, where the two sides are engaged in bitter standoff for last 18 months.
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This was for the first time in last one and a half years that the two sides have exchanged sweets and greetings in Eastern Ladakh after the standoff where troops of India and China are engaged in eyeball-to-eyeball position at many places though disengagement has also taken place in some areas.
The gesture by both sides came in the midst of an over 18 month-long standoff between the two sides in several friction points in Eastern Ladakh along the LAC.
The border posts where the two sides exchanged sweets and greetings are Hot Springs, Chushul Moldo, Daulat Beg Oldie, Konkala, Bottleneck, K K Pass and Demchok in Eastern Ladakh besides Nathula and Kongra La in North Sikkim, official sources told the Excelsior.
Both the sides gathered along the LAC for exchange of sweets and greetings this morning. Officers and jawans from Indian Army and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China were present in the functions that lasted around half an hour.
Prior to Eastern Ladakh standoff, Sino-Indian troops used to exchange sweets and greetings on almost all major festivals and national days of the two countries.
The Eastern Ladakh border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas.
Both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.
As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process last year in the North and South banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area.
Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the sensitive sector.
The 13th round of Corps Commander-level military talks in October ended in a stalemate with the Indian Army saying that the “constructive suggestions” made by it were not agreeable to the Chinese side.
The Defence Ministry on Friday said it held several rounds of military talks with the Chinese side to deescalate the situation in Eastern Ladakh without compromising on its stand of ‘complete disengagement and immediate restoration of status quo ante’.
India has been insisting on returning to the status quo that existed before the face-off took place in early May 2020
Meanwhile, notwithstanding the exchange of sweets and greetings, Indian side continued to strengthen its positions along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh by maintaining deployment of troops during harsh winter.
Security experts were of the view that gesture by the India and China troops could well be a good beginning and next round of military talks could bring good results.
Meanwhile, as the renewed ceasefire between India and Pakistan along the borders in Jammu and Kashmir completes one year next month, troops of the two countries today exchanged sweets to mark the New Year along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu region.
Considering the ongoing ceasefire along the border, this gesture is aimed at further enhancing peace and harmony in the Union Territory, a Defence official here said.
“At the beginning of 2022, to promote mutual trust and tranquillity, the Indian Army exchanged sweets and greetings with the Pakistan Army at Poonch and Mendhar crossing points,” the Defence spokesman said.
India and Pakistan agreed for a renewed ceasefire along the borders in Jammu and Kashmir on February 26 last year and barring a few violations, the agreement is holding much to the relief of border residents and farmers, who have started resuming farming activities even along the LoC and International Border.
India and Pakistani troops also exchanged sweets and extended good wishes to each other in Kupwara sector on new year with a will to maintain peace along the Line of Control.
“Indian Army as a warm gesture, presented sweets to Pakistan army at Chilehana – Tithwal Crossing Point to extend best wishes to Pakistan on new year displaying the will to maintain peace along the Line of Control”, a statement issued by the Army said.
It said that over the years, India has continuously endeavored to sweeten and strengthen the bilateral relations with Pakistan through goodwill gestures like this one across the spectrum to ensure peace and tranquility in the region.
Post the ceasefire agreement in February last year, there has been a prolonged peace along the Line of Control. “The people have appreciated efforts of the Indian Army to maintain peace in the villages along Line of Control”, the statement added.
“This gesture is one of the many such efforts made towards achieving peace and development in J&K. These positive endeavors by the Indian Army will further the cause towards prolonged peace along the Line of Control”, it added.
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