M A I N   N E W S

Ladakh stand-off on, fresh meeting today
Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service

India’s objection On its side China has built a new road that can bring vehicles south of the mountain pass China wants Indian troops to move back from the commanding heights from the top of the pass, which is known as ‘R-30’ and is 14,600-ft high India has objections as a part of the road falls in the disputed zone India sends patrols in that area which provides Army a commanding view over the Chepzi (Zhipuqi-Quebusi) area in China

New Delhi, September 16
As the stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops continues at the remote Chumar region of the South Eastern Ladakh, New Delhi has assessed this as Beijing’s move to create a fresh dispute at a high mountain pass which provides Indian Army a commanding view over the Chepzi (Zhipuqi-Quebusi) area in China.

Sources confirmed that the stand-off was continuing. “The situation remains fluid as of now,” said a senior functionary. Sources today said the Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) troops are locked in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation with the Chinese at the pass.

The pass is known as ‘R-30’ and is some 14,600 feet high. South of it is Tibet and China where a road runs through Zhipuqi and Qeibusi and ends at the south of ‘R-30’. This Tibetan area is wedged between between Himachal Pradesh and Jammu Kashmir. On its side China has built a new road that can bring vehicles south of the mountain pass and now wants Indian troops to move back from the commanding heights from the top of the pass.

Since the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC) is not demarcated on ground and perceptions about its exact location vary, troops of both sides patrol in the areas claimed by the other. New Delhi has objections as a part of the road falls in the disputed zone. India sends patrols in that area. Like any other disputed zone along the LAC, both sides are not expected to construct anything.

The Indian Army yesterday told China that the stand-off must end and cited how the 2005 protocol was being violated. “As per the protocol, soldiers on either side have to show a banner to the other side asking to withdraw,” said sources.

Showing of a banner is a standard operating procedure and is called ‘banner drill’. It is done when troops of the two sides come face-to-face due to differences on the alignment of the LAC or any other reason. This was first reported in today’s edition of The Tribune.

Another meeting is planned tomorrow at Chusul in eastern Ladakh and the level of officers could be higher. Brigadier-level officers had participated in yesterday’s meeting which was inconclusive. It is possible that the GoC of the 3 Division based at Karu could be part of the deliberations with his counterpart.

Notably Chinese President Xi Jingping also arrives on a three-day visit to India tomorrow.