16th Round of talks held by India-China over border tensions

New Delhi: According to sources, the 16th round of Corps Commander-level talks between India and China at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side began on Sunday.

Sources added that talks on the disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh and the Indian side, are being led by Fire and Fury Corps Commander Lt Gen A Sengupta.

On March 11, the 15th round of the China-India Corps Commander-level meeting was held.

During the meeting, the two sides took forward the discussions from the previous round held on January 12 this year to resolve the relevant issues in the LAC in the western region, ANI reported.

A detailed exchange of views took place following the directions given by the state leaders to work towards solving the outstanding issues at the earliest.

Peace and tranquillity in the LAC in the western region would be possible only with such a resolution and will also bring about progress in bilateral relations.

In the meantime, maintaining ground security and stability in the Western Sector were also agreed upon by both sides.

They further agreed to maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic means to solve the remaining issues that are mutually acceptable.

India and China have been at loggerheads since April-May 2020 over Chinese military incursions in multiple areas, including the Finger area, Galwan Valley, Hot Springs and Konggrung Nala. In June 2020, the situation intensified through a violent encounter with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley.

Although the talks led to the secession of some areas, including the north and south coasts of Pangong Tso and Galwan, some points of friction still remain.