NEW DELHI: In an attempt to ease tensions after a fresh stand-off at the 465-km long Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Ladakh sector, senior commanders of the Indian and Chinese armies held two flag meetings at two different places on Tuesday.
The meetings were convened to discuss last week’s face-off in Burtse area over the construction of a hut or watch tower by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
According to sources, the meetings of senior officers of the PLA and the Indian Army took place in Chushul, 202 km southeast of Leh and Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO), where they agreed to maintain peace and tranquility on the border. “During the meeting, patrolling pattern of both armies was discussed and it was agreed to maintain status quo on the border,” said a source.
The Chinese side was asked about the hut, built by the PLA troops 1.5 km deep inside the perceived Indian territory in Burtse, the sources said, adding “both sides agreed to adhere to no defence construction along the LAC”. The ITBP and Army jawans had demolished the hut on Friday in Burtse, 210 km northeast of Leh, leading to a face-off between the two sides. The hut, with a solar panel on top, had a camera which recorded the movements of the Indian troops, the sources said, while giving details about the Chinese incursion bid. The construction was done by the PLA apparently to claim that the area belongs to them.
The area is adjacent to Depsang where the PLA had pitched camps in April, 2013 leading to a three-week stalemate. Chinese Foreign Ministry had claimed in Beijing on Monday that no face-off had taken place as the Chinese troops were on their side of the LAC.