The latest border conflict between India and China has lasted for more than a year-and-a-half, with still no sign of complete disengagement and de-escalation at some friction points along the Line of Actual Control.
In an attempt once again to resolve the stand-off at LAC, both countries are expected to hold the 14th round of Corps Commander-level talks after mid-December.
“The invitation for the 14th round of talks has to come from the Chinese side. It is likely that the talks would be held in the second half of December,” government sources told news agency ANI.
The timing for the talks will be made suitable for India since the armed forces till December 16 will be engaged with the celebrations on its golden jubilee of defeating Pakistan in the 1971 war.
India and China have held 13 rounds of talks on LAC in eastern Ladakh area to resolve the standoff, and both sides are looking to resolve the Hot Springs friction point that emerged after the Chinese aggression least year.
The friction points on the banks of the Pangong Tso lake and Gogra Heights have been resolved, but Hot Springs continues to be an unresolved thorn.
India has also demanded resolution in Daulat Beg Oldi area, which has been a bone of contention from the other side even before the April-May conflict last year.
Chinese aggression has been countered with appropriate muscle power by Indian security forces, who have checked the advancement at multiple locations after China’s People’s Liberation Army came threateningly close to Indian territory.
The gory Galwan Valley clash last year in June saw troops on both sides suffering heavy casualties.
Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat last month told Times Now that India’s enemy number one is China, not Pakistan.
“China is our biggest enemy today, not Pakistan. First issue is disengagement, then de-escalation. The focus is to go back to our original positions prior to April 2020,” CDS Rawat said.