India strongly presses for disengagement at DB during talks with China

India has strongly pressed for disengagement at the Depsang Bulge during talks China held on Sunday.

While no official word on the outcome of the talks of the 18th round of talks is out as yet, sources tell OneIndia India also insisted on immediate disengagement at Charding Ninglung Nallah (CNN) track junction at Demchok.

India is hoping that there would be some movement ahead of the visit by the Chinese defence minister's visit on April 27-28. India has maintained that the only way forward would be disengagement along the Line of Actual Control at eastern Ladakh.

In case there were to be any improvement in bilateral ties, disengagement would be pre-requisite, India also made it clear to the Chinese sides during the talks that were led by 14 Corps commander Lt-General Rashim Bali.

China has so far shown no intent to withdrawn troops and improve the bi-lateral relations with India.

Meanwhile the two sides have agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels. The two sides have also also decided to work out a mutually acceptable solution of the remaining issues at the earliest.

The source cited above however added that the Chinese side is not in any hurry to resolve the issues and is not allowing any forward movement, in areas such as the Depsang Plains.

The chance of de-escalation at the moment appears to be very bleak at the moment. The India side continues to reply heavily in the area to guard against attempts by the Chinese to alter the status-quo along the LAC.