Chinese troops violate agreement in Pangong Tso, Indian Army pre-empts move

A govt release said that Indian troops pre-empted the Chinese activity on the Southern Bank of Pangong Tso Lake and undertook measures to strengthen India's positions

Months after the deadly border clash, the situation in Eastern Ladakh flared last night when troops of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) violated the "previous consensus" arrived at during military and diplomatic engagements. 

"PLA carried out provocative military movements to change the status quo," said Colonel Aman Anand in a statement and added that a Brigade Commander level Flag Meeting is in progress at Chushul to resolve the issues. 

It is to be learned that Indian troops pre-empted the Chinese activity on the Southern Bank of Pangong Tso Lake, undertook measures to strengthen India's positions, and thwarted the intentions to unilaterally change facts on the ground.

"The Indian Army is committed to maintaining peace and tranquility through dialogue, but is also equally determined to protect its territorial integrity," Army said in its statement.

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Meanwhile, the Srinagar-Leh highway has been closed for the civilians in view of the fresh "provocative" military move by China, India Today reported. 
 

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had earlier said that a solution to the border row with China must be predicated on honouring all agreements and understandings without attempting to alter the status quo unilaterally. Jaishankar called the situation in Ladakh the "most serious" after the 1962 conflict, adding the quantum of forces currently deployed by both sides at the Line of Actual Control(LAC) is also "unprecedented". At the same time, he noted that all border situations were resolved through diplomacy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had accused China of harbouring expansionist ambitions and reminded Beijing that the “era of expansionism is over" as he paid a surprise visit to a military base in the Ladakh sector where 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a violent border clash with the Chinese army.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited a forward position at Nimmoo in Leh.

India and China are engaged in a standoff since April-May over the transgressions by the Chinese Army in multiple areas including Finger area, Galwan valley, Hot springs and Kongrung Nala.

The talks between the two sides have been going on for the last three months including five Lieutenant General-level talks but have failed to yield any results, so far. The Chinese Army has refused to withdraw or disengage completely from the Finger area and seems to be buying time to delay its disengagement from there.

While efforts are underway to resolve the ongoing border dispute, India has rejected the Chinese suggestion to disengage equidistantly from the Finger area in Eastern Ladakh.