Discussions on for next round of talks as ground reality along LAC being monitored: Air Chief

New Delhi, June 19: Air Force Chief R K S Bhaduria said that discussions are on for the next round of talks with China amidst the tense standoff along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh.

The Air Chief also said that while discussions are on for the next round of talks, the ground reality is also being monitored in terms of current leftover locations, deployments or any changes. We are taking all required actions on our part, he further added.

He said that there is a proposal for Commander level talks. The first attempt is to continue with talks and carry out disengagement in the remaining friction points. This would be followed by de-escalation, the Air Chief also said.

Earlier this week OneIndia had reported that China suggested negotiations at the Division Commander level, which involve teams headed by officers of the rank of Major General should be held.

The Division Commander level talks are different compared to the Corps Commander level talks which involves more senior officers.

The last time India and China held the Corps Commander level talks was on April 9 and that ended in a stalemate. The only major development since then has been the disengagement in Pangong Tso.

China conveyed to India that negotiations for disengagement at Hot Springs and Gogra Post can be held by the Division Commanders. The offer is under consideration, officials have told OneIndia.

The PLA troops have built both permanent and temporary accommodation and have procured additional snow mobility vehicles. Further the Chinese troops have been rotated in the Pangong Lake area and the 4th and 6th division were withdrawn from both banks of the lake. They were replaced by the 8th and 11th divisions and both have two mobility regiments, an artillery and armoured regiment as well.

Intelligence inputs have suggested that the Chinese are preparing for a long haul and this is an indicator that they are no mood of any sort of escalation immediately.

Last week, it was year since both sides started negotiations to dial down tensions but people familiar with the developments say that there has been limited success.There have been 11 rounds of military commander level talks since the past year. The first round of talks were held on June 6 2020.