30.09.2024, New Delhi.
The lack of trust with China and the development of Chinese military infrastructure are the reasons India will keep its troops on the disputed border with China, The Times of India wrote on September 30, citing sources in the Ministry of Defense.
While there may be signs of progress and narrowing of differences in political and diplomatic talks, high-ranking defense sources told The Times of India that the trust deficit on the ground with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) remains very high.
Given that China continues to strengthen its forward military positions and build permanent defensive structures and infrastructure along the entire 3,488-kilometer Line of Actual Control (LAC), it is clear that the PLA will not return to peacetime locations soon, the sources added.
“Even buffer zones were supposed to be only temporary measures. China continues to make unreasonable demands and plays a long waiting game. India must be careful not to fall into China’s trap,” an officer emphasized.
There is an understanding that while the military standoff continues, only political and diplomatic negotiations can resolve the situation. “If both sides agree on broad frameworks, the actual terms of disengagement in Depsang and Demchok can be worked out at the military level,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Indian army maintains a “high level of operational readiness,” redeploying troops, reserves, and logistical support in each sector of the LAC to be prepared for any contingencies, the military official noted.
Several bilateral political and diplomatic negotiations have taken place over the past two months. Specifically, the 30th and 31st meetings of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) were held on July 31 and August 29. Additionally, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the BRICS meeting in St. Petersburg on September 12.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
