Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
India and China are set to hold Corps Commander-level talks in Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday amid ongoing issues like conflicting territorial claims and heavy military buildup along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between the two countries.
The talks will be held at the Wacha BMP meeting point along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh. This is the first time the two sides are holding Corps Commander-level talks in the state, marking a new channel of military engagement in the eastern sector.
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Lt Gen Girish Kalia, Commander of the Indian Army’s Spear Corps, will lead the Indian delegation in the talks with his Chinese counterpart, sources said.
There are five designated meeting points along the India-China LAC, including two in Arunachal Pradesh. Wacha is one of the two meeting points in the state.
The talks assume significance ahead of the upcoming BRICS Summit in India, where Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend. The latest military engagement comes amid efforts by both sides to maintain stability and prevent tensions along the LAC from escalating.
TALKS FOLLOW DOVAL-WANG YI BOUNDARY DIALOGUE
The engagement comes days after National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held boundary talks in Beijing on August 25.
During those discussions, India and China agreed to advance negotiations towards an “early and substantial harvest” of boundary issues and strengthen mechanisms to prevent incidents along the border from escalating.
The two countries also agreed to establish two new military hotlines. The proposed communication links will connect the Indian Army’s Eastern and Central Commands with their respective Chinese counterparts.
The hotlines are intended to strengthen direct communication between military commanders and help address situations along the LAC more quickly.
FOCUS ON STABILITY ALONG EASTERN SECTOR
The meeting at Wacha comes against the backdrop of renewed diplomatic and military engagement between India and China on the boundary question.
The two sides have been working to maintain peace and tranquillity along the LAC following the tensions that had significantly strained bilateral ties.
The talks are expected to add a new dimension to these efforts, particularly in the eastern sector, where maintaining direct communication between the two militaries remains important.
The discussions are also aimed at focusing on maintaining peace and stability along the LAC and strengthening mechanisms to prevent localised incidents from escalating into larger tensions.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
