India-China prepares for 8th round of military level talk

India-China will hold the eighth round of military and diplomatic level talks next week to discuss the disengagement at the Line Of Actual Control. The two countries are also preparing for snow and winter deployment at LAC.

This time the Indian contingent will comprise Lieutenant General PGK Menon, who has just taken over the 14 corps in Leh. Naveen Srivastava the joint secretary, East Asia of the Ministry of External Affairs will also mark his presence in the 8th round of talks. The Chinese side will see the likes of major general Lin Liu and a foreign ministry official.

“If India were to withdraw its armoured units from south of Pangong Tso to beyond Chang La or beyond Marsimik La, then they will never reach back to the contested points in a worst-case scenario as both the passes are blocked by heavy snow till April every year. The PLA, on the other hand, have an advantage as they have a six-lane Kashgar-Lhasa highway just 10 km from both Marsimik La and Kongka La with roads running right up to their posts,” said a senior official.

While the People Liberation Army (PLA) has proposed that both sides should withdraw armored and artillery units as part of de-escalation and then go for dis-engagement of infantry, the Indian side is very much clear that armored units cannot be withdrawn as it will give an advantage to the adversary due to terrain and capability.