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Flag meeting in Ladakh following confrontation between troops

Last Updated 16 August 2017, 12:49 IST

Indian and Chinese Army officials on Wednesday held a border personnel meeting in Chusul in eastern Ladakh, a day after border guards of the two nations had a confrontation near the Pangong Tso lake in Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting was held to defuse tension that cropped up a day before when troops from both sides reportedly threw stones at each other following an altercation. This resulted in injuries to soldiers from both sides.

A day later, Indian and People's Liberation Army officials, sources said, were discussing ways to ensure the strengthening of the existing mechanism to maintain peace and tranquillity at the border.

This is for the first time in many years that troops were injured in a confrontation while guarding the 3,488 km Line of Actual control between China and India.

The 135 km-long glacial-melt lake, straddles both countries. Two-thirds of the lake is in Chinese control while the rest is with India. Both nations routinely patrol its respective territories.

The adjoining areas on the banks are guarded by the land patrols. On the northern bank of the lake, there are spurs of the mountain that are military termed as fingers.

On a west-to-east axis, India claims territory till Finger 8 but is in physical control till Finger 4. The aerial distance between the two Fingers is about 15 km. The land north of these mountains is disputed.

Sources said the stone-throwing incident occurred when land-based patrols of both sides came face to face north of the picturesque lake in Ladakh.

It is an area claimed by both countries and is one of the spots where the two countries fought pitched battles during the 1962 war.

The stand-off on the Independence Day lasted for two hours in which no arms were used. The situation was brought under control after a standard drill that sees both sides holding up banners claiming their rights over the disputed area before stepping back to their respective positions.

Troops from Indian Army and Indo Tibetan Border Police patrol the lake and the adjoining areas.

The fresh confrontation in the Western Himalayas comes at a time when Indian and Chinese soldiers are locked in a face-off in the Doklam area in Sikkim sector, near the China-India-Bhutan trijunction.

The Doklam stand-off has entered into the eighth week with is no visible sign of the crisis getting resolved, though diplomats from both sides are at work.

Indian Army officials also mentioned that sweets were exchanged between Indian and PLA troops in Doklam and other areas on the Independence Day, but there was no ceremonial border personnel meeting.

The officials said sweets were exchanged in multiple border locations including in the area of Dokalam. However, other spots where sweets were exchanged have not been disclosed by the Army.

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(Published 16 August 2017, 12:49 IST)

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