India-China talks on vexed LAC issue on track: Eastern Army Commander

Talks to resolve the "vexed" Line of Actual Control (LAC) issue with China are on track, with differences getting narrowed down after every round of discussion, Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen M M Naravane said here on Friday.

Putting a time frame to resolve the issue, however, would be difficult at this point, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command, said.

"With every round of talks on the vexed LAC issue, the differences keep getting narrowed down. Hopefully at some point, all the interests will converge and we will be able to formally sign an agreement," he said.

Asked at what stage the talks have reached, Naravane, who has been appointed the next vice-chief of the Army, said, "We are in the 23rd or 24th round of talks, putting a time frame to it is difficult. The sooner the (LAC) issue is resolved, the sooner the two large Asian neighbours can get past these obstacles to move on the path of progress."
Speaking to news persons after the wreath-laying ceremony on the 20th anniversary of the Kargil war victory against Pakistan, he said "As with our western neighbour, with our northern neighbour, too, if we have peace, the population on both sides will be able to look forward to a brighter future."