Indian, Chinese troops hold border meeting after Ladakh scuffle

Senior army officers of India and China held a meeting in eastern Ladakh on Wednesday to discuss peace, a day after their troops engaged in a scuffle when Chinese soldiers tried to enter the Indian side in Pangong Lake area, sources said.

According to sources in the Army, a 'pre-scheduled' Border Personnel Meeting was held in Chusul, in eastern Ladakh, on Wednesday afternoon.

In the meeting, a day after an unusual scuffle took place between Indian and Chinese troops which included stone pelting, the two sides discussed the incident and issues to ensure "strengthening of existing mechanisms for maintaining peace and tranquility", said the sources.

Indian and Chinese troops got into a scuffle near the Pangong Lake in Ladakh after Chinese troops tried to cross the Line of Actual Control in the area.

The standoff continued for more than an hour, during which soldiers on both sides were involved in stone pelting, which led to injury to troops, sources said.

Later, a standard drill in which banners are shown asking the other side to go back to the agreed point - was held, and the Chinese troops retreated.

This is a one of its kind incident where troops were involved in a skirmish, though no weapons were used.

Another source said the incident has been taken "very seriously" by both sides.

Army officials in Delhi have refused to comment on the incident, but have not denied it either.

The development in Ladakh comes as troops of both sides are locked in a tense standoff in Doklam, in Sikkim sector, that entered the third month on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, ceremonial BPMs held at different points of the boundary on Independence Day was not held.

However, Army sources said on Wednesday that sweets were exchanged.

--IANS

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