India and China on Thursday held “constructive” diplomatic talks on proposals to resolve the remaining issues and achieve complete disengagement in eastern Ladakh, but there were no signs of a breakthrough.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said both sides decided to hold the next round of senior commanders’ meeting at the earliest to achieve the “objective” and agreed on the need to ensure a stable situation on the ground and avoid any untoward incident.
It said the two sides reviewed the situation and engaged in an “open, constructive and in-depth” discussion on proposals to resolve the remaining issues and achieve complete disengagement in eastern Ladakh.
The virtual talks took place under the framework of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC).
Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the Ministry of External Affairs, led the Indian delegation. The Chinese team was headed by the director-general, boundary and oceanic affairs in the Chinese foreign ministry.
“The two sides reviewed the situation along the LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas, and engaged in an open, constructive and in-depth discussion of proposals to resolve the remaining issues and achieve complete disengagement in eastern Ladakh,” the MEA said in a statement.
“They further agreed on the need to maintain peace and tranquility along the border areas, ensure a stable situation on the ground and avoid any untoward incident,” it said.
“The two sides agreed to continue dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and hold the next round of the senior commanders’ meeting at the earliest in order to achieve the above objective,” the MEA added.
