Jaishankar, Wang Yi review status of disengagement
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Both sides agree disengagement on banks of Pangong Lake “a significant first step”
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday spoke to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to review the on-going disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
In a message on Twitter, Mr. Jaishankar mentioned he “spoke to State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi this afternoon” and “discussed the implementation of our Moscow Agreement and reviewed the status of disengagement”.
The two Ministers had met in Moscow in September and agreed that the state of affairs was “not in the interest of either side” and to proceed dialogue and “quickly disengage”.
Working out the modalities, nevertheless, proved to be sophisticated and took a number of months. Both sides broadly agreed on a plan to disengage on the ninth spherical of military-level talks in January, which started to be carried out earlier this month.
On Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs mentioned the completion of disengagement on the north and the south banks of the Pangong Lake final week was “a significant first step” in the direction of resolving the remaining points.
“Both sides view the smooth and successful completion of disengagement in the north and south bank as a significant first step as this forms a basis for resolution of remaining issues to achieve the eventual goal of complete disengagement in all friction areas,” MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava mentioned. “The two sides have agreed to work towards a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues.”
He mentioned as agreed by either side, the tenth spherical of conferences between Corps Commanders was held on February 20, inside 48 hours of the completion of disengagement on the north and south banks of Pangong Lake. He additionally mentioned, in response to what he known as “misleading” feedback within the media, that “India has not conceded any territory as a result of this agreement”. “On the contrary, it has enforced observance and respect for LAC and it has prevented any unilateral change in the status quo,” Mr. Srivastava mentioned.
On Wednesday, Army Chief Gen. Manoj Naravane mentioned disengagement on the lake was “a win win” state of affairs for either side, however cautioned there was an extended technique to go in the direction of full disengagement and thereafter, de-escalation.
“We still have a long way to go,” he mentioned, after the primary part of disengagement. “We now have to move on to the stage of de-escalation. After that de-induction of troops which went to the higher reaches.”
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