New Delhi, Apr. 23 (ANI): Apparently taking a tough stance on the reported presence of Chinese troops ten kilometers inside Indian territory in the Ladakh region, India on Tuesday asked China to maintain status-quo on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Referring to the incident that is being reported widely in the Indian media, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said during his regular briefing today said that 'New Delhi sees this as a face-to-face situation between border personnel of the two sides due to differences on their alignment of the Line of Actual Control'.
"We have therefore asked the Chinese side to maintain status-quo in this sector and by status-quo I mean status-quo prior to this incident. The term face-to-face situation is not something that we have conjured up, it is something that is referred to under 205 protocol for the implementation of CBMs in the military field along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China border areas," he added.
Akbaruddin said the ongoing incident in the Debsangh area of the western sector of the India-China boundary is a localized event.
"This is a sector in which there are differing perceptions of the Line of Actual Control. That's why we have since 1996 been maintaining that there is a need for the sides to work together in clarifying and confirming the Line of Actual Control," he added.
Akbaruddin said Joint Secretary (East Asia) Gautam Bambawale, who chairs the working mechanism for consultation and coordination on India-China border affairs spoke to his counterpart, who is the Director General Border Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about the incident on April 16.
"Subsequently, on 18th morning there was a flag meeting. Following that on 18th evening, the Foreign Secretary expressed the concerns of the Government of India to Ambassador of China in Delhi. This morning, there is a flag meeting, which is still underway," he added.
Akbaruddin further said that overall, the India-China border areas continue to remain peaceful.
"We believe that this ongoing incident can be handled on the basis of agreements between the two countries and through mechanisms established under those agreements to resolve such situations peacefully," he added.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid earlier in the day ruled out any need to hold diplomatic-level talks on the issue.
"There is no need for diplomatic-level talks," he told reporters outside the Parliament here.
Khurshid said the commanders from both sides would hold discussions 'to work out a solution at flag meetings, as they have been doing in the past'.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony yesterday said that India will take 'every step' to protect its interests to resolve the situation arising out of the incursion.
According to reports, a Platoon-strength contingent of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) entered the Indian territory in Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) sector in eastern Ladakh and erected a tented post, setting the stage for a face-off with Indian troops.
Daulat Beg Oldi, which is located in northernmost Ladakh, is a historic camp site. It is located on an ancient trade route connecting Ladakh to Yarkand in Xinjiang, China. (ANI)
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