China Outright Refuses To Pullback Troops From Gogra, Hot Springs Friction Points In Eastern Ladakh

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has outright refused to pull-back its troops and weaponry from the Gogra and Hot Springs friction points in Eastern Ladakh, India Today has reported.

"The Chinese side appeared for the 11th round of talks on Friday with a predetermined decision to be totally inflexible", the report quotes an Army Official as saying. These were the first talks held between India and China after both the sides positively disengaged from Pangong Tso a few months ago.

As troop, deployment in Gogra and Hot Springs remains significant on both sides, India had offered a phased reduction for both sides, which the Chinese refused to entertain.

So far disengagement process at both banks of the Pangong Lake has taken place. It was on February 10 that China made an announcement that New Delhi and Beijing had agreed to disengage at Pangong Lake.

Indian Army team along with Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) team physically verified and re-verified disengagement at Pangong Lake.

As per the agreement, Chinese troops moved back to Finger 8 and Indian troops pulled back to the Dhan Singh Thapa post between Finger 2 and 3 of the north bank of Pangong Lake.

A temporary moratorium on military activities, including patrolling to the traditional areas was placed.

The mountain spur jutting into the lake is referred to as Finger in military parlance. The north bank of the lake is divided into 8 Fingers. India has claimed its territory till Finger 8 and China disputes it and claims its own territory till Finger 4.

India and China are engaged in a year long standoff at the Line of Actual Control. The confrontations began on the north bank of Pangong Lake, both in the waters and the bank as Chinese incursions increased in early May last year.

With Inputs From IANS