Days after clashes between Indian and Chinese troops at Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, top military commanders of the two countries held talks and agreed to maintain security and stability on the ground in the Western Sector.
”The 17th round of India- China Corps Commander Level Meeting (between India and China) was held at Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Chinese side on 20 December,” a joint statement issued by the two sides said on Thursday.
It said that building on the progress made after the last meeting on 17 July, the two sides exchanged views on the resolution of the relevant issues along the LAC in the Western Sector in an open and constructive manner.
They had a frank and in-depth discussion, keeping in line with the guidance provided by the top leaders of the two countries to work for the resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest which would help in the restoration of peace and tranquility along the LAC in the Western Sector and enable progress in bilateral relations, the joint statement added.
It said that in the interim, the two sides agreed to maintain security and stability on the ground in the Western Sector. They also agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest.
The commander-level meeting came 11 days after clashes between the Indian Army and China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector on 9 December, resulting in injuries on both sides.
The clashes have triggered a storm in Parliament with the Opposition demanding a detailed discussion on the situation at the LAC, keeping in mind the security of the nation. However, the government has ruled out a discussion on the sensitive subject, saying the defence minister and the foreign minister have already made statements on it.