New Delhi, April 25
As Indian and Chinese troops continued to hold respective ground positions in northern Ladakh, India’s top strategic policy body, the China Study Group, received a list of options from the Army to tackle the current crisis. India has, so far, opted for a diplomatic resolution to the standoff triggered by the April 15 incursion by Chinese troops in the Daulat Beg Oldie sector in Ladakh.

Army Chief General Bikram Singh briefed Defence Minister AK Antony on the matter and discussed the situation with Vice Chief Lt Gen SK Singh who has served in Leh as the 14 Corps Commander and is well versed with the terrain. The China Study Group has been tasked to deal with the matter in consultation with the Prime Minister’s Office and the Defence Ministry. A flag meeting between the two sides could be held tomorrow. Two previous flag-meetings conducted by Brigadier-level officials have been inconclusive.

The options given by the Army include using the military aggressively. The CSG has so far opted to resolve the matter through diplomatic means while using the Army to keep up the pressure. The troops along the eastern and northern Ladakh have been put on alert. Indian agencies believe that the current move by the Chinese was “a well-thought out plan which was supposedly cleared at the highest level.” It isn’t a localised action by some ‘aggressive’ commander, they feel.

One of the options would be to block the supply routes to the Chinese tent. On an average, a trooper consumes one kg ration per day at this altitude. The Chinese are believed to be 37-38 in number and are in the tent since April 15. There supplies will have to replenished. The Indian side says there has been no replenishment so far. Army’s long-term plan includes having more posts along the LAC. The Chinese, so far, have not altered its tent troop strength, once they do it, other options would be considered, said sources.

• The current standoff is a result of Chinese intrusion in the Daulat Beg Oldie sector
• Chinese troops have entered 8-10 km inside the Indian territory and pitched a tent east of the Raki Nullah. The tent has 37-38 Chinese troops with sniffer dogs
• Around 800-1,000 m away, on the other side of the nullah, is the Indian Army tent. The tents on either side are being used as a staging ground from where a small group of 12-15 troops are dispatched, in rotation, to the third location which is the actual face-off site
• At this spot, the gun-toting troops are in an eyeball-to- eyeball position. The troops are 100m apart across the dry Raki Nullah. Both sides have been showing banners to each other asking the other side to withdraw as per the April 2005 pact

New Delhi, April 25
India and China today appeared eager to amicably resolve the situation arising from the Chinese incursion in Ladakh ahead of External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid visits Beijing on May 9.

Official sources said the two countries were closely in touch through various diplomatic channels and an attempt was being to put the border standoff behind them as quickly as possible.

Sources said China has raised some concerns with India in recent months regarding the LAC and New Delhi was trying to address these. Sources did not identify China’s concerns but Beijing, of late, has complained about India ramping up its border infrastructure after neglecting it for long.

New Delhi says it has raised concerns regarding increased Chinese activity on the border and frequent incursions by People’s Liberation Army. India has recorded more than 600 ‘transgressions’ along the unresolved LAC over the last three years.

Sources said the border issue between the two countries was expected to figure prominently during talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and new Chinese Premier Li Keqiang when the latter visits New Delhi on May 20. “Surely, the Chinese would not like their Premier’s visit to take place in a negative atmosphere...the whole purpose of the visit would be defeated,” they said.