Depsang Plains issue raised prominently at 16th round of Corps Commander talks with China

New Delhi, July 18 (IANS): Among other issues to begin the disengagement process along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the strategically important Depsang remained a major point of discussion at the 16th round of Corps Commander talks with China.

The Corps Commander talks began at 9:30 am at the Chushul Moldo meeting point on the Indian side of the LAC in the region on Sunday, and ended at around 10 pm.

However, there was no official word on the outcome of the talks from either sides. According to a source, India strongly insisted for the early disengagement of troops from all the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh.

India asked China to withdraw its troops from the LAC and restore the previous situation, source said.

As per the source, India discussed three important issues of tension with China: including Patrolling Point 15 near Kugrang Nala in Chang Chenmo Sector, Charding Ninglung Nala Track Junction Demchok and Depsang Plain to end the ongoing tension and to withdraw the troops, restoring the previous status.

India strictly said to restore the status quo as of April 2020 — before the start of the military standoff along LAC. The discussion lasted for around 12-and-a-half hours.

The Indian delegation at the talks was led by Lt. General Anindya Sengupta, the commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps, while the Chinese team was headed by South Xinjiang Military District Chief Major General Yang Lin.

It is also learnt that the Indian side asked China to avoid transgression through their fighter jets and refrain from flying planes near the LAC.