India, China officials meet on Ladakh border, pledge to maintain LAC sanctity

Srinagar: Indian Army officials held meetings with their counterparts in China’s PLA at Daulat Beg Oldi and Chushul along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh on Thursday and took pledge to maintain  the sanctity of the borderline to ensure peace and tranquility in the region.

The area particularly Depsang valley of Ladakh has in the recent years witnessed incidents of incursion by the Chinese troops, mainly due to  different and conflicting perceptions about the LAC.

The officers from the two armies held ceremonial border personal meetings (BPMs) on the occasion of “Harvest Festival’’ at Indian BPM hut in Chushul and  another one at Indian meeting point hut at Daulat Beg Oldi. The Indian delegations were led by Brigadier Rajender Rai in Chushul and by Colonel BS Uppal in Daulat Beg Oldi whereas those of the neighbouring country by senior Col. Wang Jun Xian and Lt. Col. Duan Yu Gangin at the two places, respectively.

Defence spokesman at Udhampur, the headquarters of the Northern Command, Colonel S.D. Goswami said that the ceremonial border personal meetings were marked by saluting the National flags of the two countries and were followed by the ceremonial address by both delegation leaders. “These were composed of exchange of greetings and wishes and reflected the mutual desire of maintaining and improving relations at functional level at the border,” he said. Later a culture programme showcasing Indian culture and traditional grandeur was organized.

The spokesman said, “Both the delegations interacted in a free, congenial and cordial environment and committed themselves to enhancing the existing cordial relations and maintaining peace along the LAC “. He added, “Both sides also sought to build on the mutual feeling to uphold the treaties and agreement signed between the governments of the two sides to maintain peace and tranquility along the LAC”.