India, China not patrolling several points in eastern Ladakh as agreed: Government source

[FOOLS_NIGHTMARE]

Government source says at least 30 of 65 patrolling points along the LAC in eastern Ladakh are not being patrolled anymore by Indian troops after the Galwan clash; defence source says data is incorrect​

As several patrolling points in eastern Ladakh remain inaccessible to Indian troops more than two years after the Galwan clash with Chinese forces, a source in the defence establishment told The Hindu that after disengagement, in some well-known areas, neither side is patrolling, as per the understanding reached during their talks.

The source said that “patrolling by both sides was affected in certain areas due to the events of 2020.”

These points were regularly patrolled before April-May 2020 when China started amassing troops close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

‘Neither side patrolling’​

“Post disengagement from the areas that are well known, both sides are not patrolling as per the understanding reached during the talks. The understanding to disengage is based on the principle of equal and mutual security without prejudice to the LAC claims. Both sides are currently engaged in talks to resolve the balance issues including aspects of patrolling,” the defence source said.

On June 15, 2020, after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in violent clashes with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), several measures were taken to ease the situation at the LAC which included the creation of “no-patrolling zones” or “buffer zones” by both sides. At least four PLA soldiers were also killed during the Galwan clashes.

Also read |What is it about the nature of the India-China conflict that defies resolution?

There are 65 PPs in eastern Ladakh, starting from the base of the Karakoram to Chumar. PPs are the end points along the undefined LAC up to which the Indian troops patrol after starting from their respective base camps. PPs are often used to assert territorial claims along the undefined LAC.

‘Patrols were interrupted’​

In September 2020, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had informed the Parliament that face-offs with the Chinese PLA happened because “patrols were interrupted” and there was no commonly delineated LAC, meaning that there was an overlap in LAC perception in many areas.


Some of the PPs that are not being patrolled are PP 5-9 in Samar Lungpa, PP 10-13 in Depsang, PP 14, PP 15, PP 17A, Finger 3-8 on the North Bank of Pangong Tso, PP 36 and 37 in Demchok, and PP 50 and 51 at Charding Nilung Nala (CNN) Junction, the government source said.

As reported by The Hindu on September 20, the village head of one of the last settlements along the LAC in Chushul said on Tuesday that in the past year, at least three large grazing areas near the village have been turned into “buffer zones” and graziers have lost access to 41 km of land. The government source said that there are 19 grazing areas, all in Ladakh, that locals have not been able to access due to the ongoing crisis.

Following the standoff in 2020, there was a spurt in infrastructure development in the border areas. Arrangements were made to accommodate 22,000 troops, and approximately 450 armoured vehicles, tanks and guns have been constructed in the last two years.

India and China are positioned in close proximity at multiple locations along the LAC and the senior military commanders have held 17 rounds of meetings so far.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...-agreed-government-source/article66293635.ece

 

[walterbibikow]

We have roads/army post in aksai chin .

We claim entire aksai chin . LAC - line of "actual control " is behind .

We used to patrol along the LAC in depsang inside aksai chin , chinese are blocking at few places now. In return we're not allowing them to patrol near Burtse( claim line). We did not have permanent posts in areas of Raki Nala, PP10, 11, 12 or 13, but went for patrols to those areas and the Chinese used to also patrol up to the area of Burtse which they claim as in the 1959 claim line. Depsang Bulge is a 900 square kilometre area of mountain terrain in the disputed Aksai Chin region. India's on paper LAC claim is 18km east of Y-junction in what is historically PLA controlled territory which is why Indian troops only asserted control up to 8km east of Y-junction via patrols.

35°29'34.8"N 78°05'27.0"E · Aksai Chin

Aksai Chin

www.google.com

In pangong tso china claims & patrolled up to finger 4 and india to finger 8. current buffer is f4 to f8. And China used to patrol till F-4. They can no longer come there either. We didn't have posts there. We have a post in PP3 -- Dhan Singh Post -- but we didn't have a post in Finger 4 or Finger 8.

Patrolling Point 15 is one more centerpiece in the whole chain which runs through the Y junction on Raki Nalla, Galwan river (PP14), Patrolling Point 15, PP 17 Alpha, Pangong Tso north and Pangong Tso south bank.

This is a chain of locations which provide access towards Aksai Chin and the Depsang Bulge.

These are areas where buffer zones have developed between the Indian Army and the People's Liberation Army.

Patrolling Point 15 is a pass on the ridge line. The pass is called Jianan La.

By climbing the pass up PP 15, our troops can reach the depth areas of the Galwan river, and also get access towards the Depsang Bulge.

Therefore, the PLA wanted to deny or stop the movement of our troops in this area. That is why in my opinion, it took such a long time to finally arrive at a consensus for the creation of the buffer zone at PP15.

The troops have disengaged at PP15.

The buffer zone means that Indian troops will not patrol to the end of PP15 and the Chinese will not come towards PP15. This PP15 buffer zone has pushed Indian troops a little away while the PLA has pulled back similarly, thus creating a safe zone. It may suit the Chinese who do not want fisticuffs, brawls and scuffles that used to take place regularly for years.

Our troops used to patrol up to this area and have a look around. The PLA used to also patrol the area.

In the long term analysis, it may give PLA some satisfaction of having achieved a buffer zone protecting their own troops from the fisticuffs and scuffles. But they have also pushed us away from the patrolling areas.

It's a no win situation for either side. It is a denial on both sides. A no win situation and that is where the situation rests now