India, China on verge of reaching agreement to resolve border standoff
Live MintNEW DELHI: Expectations of a breakthrough in the more than six-month-old military standoff between India and China have gained ground with both countries closely examining a proposal that looks at a “sequential disengagement” of troops currently involved in an eye-ball-to-eye-ball confrontation in eastern Ladakh The proposal to ease tensions in areas along the Line of Actual Control including and along the northern and southern banks of the Pangong Tso lake in Ladakh, seen as a majorly contentious friction point between the two countries, was proposed by the Chinese side in the last meeting of the senior military commanders on 6 November, one of two people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. According to the proposal, the first step involves both sides moving tanks, artillery guns, armoured vehicles and large equipment from the friction points along the LAC, the first person cited above said. The second step involves the Chinese troops moving back to Finger 8 areas from their current position at Finger 4 on the north bank of Pangong lake while the Indian troops position themselves close to the Dhan Singh Thapa post. For India, “verification is priority” said the second person pointing to a violent clash that took place on 15 June between Indian and Chinese troops after the Indian side insisted that the Chinese stick to the terms of a disengagement process agreed to on 6 June.