The violent confrontation took place at almost 15,000 feet in the Himalayas near the Galwan River
New Delhi:
All Indian soldiers involved in the deadly clash with China in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh on Monday have now been found, senior military officials said today.
This comes at a time when it was reported that a number of Indian soldiers were still in the custody of the Chinese military. The military did not comment on the release of any Chinese soldier, but said, “It is clarified that there are no Indian troops missing in action.”
Twenty soldiers, including a colonel, were killed in the line of duty. Although Beijing has not given any official figures, army sources say at least 45 Chinese soldiers have been killed or injured.
Some Indian soldiers are still recovering in a hospital in Ladakh, but further information on this is not being released until the military declares it safe.
An Indian general and his Chinese counterpart met for the second day in a row near Patrol Point 14 in the Galwan Valley, where the clashes took place. Wednesday’s talks were not conclusive, with the Chinese side showing no side to withdraw from the region.
In the violent confrontation that took place nearly 15,000 feet in the Himalayas near the icy Galwan River, soldiers were attacked with iron rods, rocks wrapped in barbed wire and studded clubs . Some soldiers fell from a steep ridge into the icy river.
After confirming on Tuesday that three soldiers, including the colonel, had been killed, the military said 17 other seriously injured soldiers were “exposed to sub-zero temperatures” and died from their injuries. Their sacrifice will not be in vain, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said yesterday, warning that India would give an appropriate response if provoked.
The incident “will have a serious impact on bilateral relations” and China must reassess its actions and take corrective measures, Chinese Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, the first high-level engagement. since the rise in tensions. on the actual control line seven weeks ago.
But the ministers agreed that “neither party would take action to make matters worse” and the two sides would implement the disengagement agreement of June 6, when senior officers held the first of many talks to defuse the tension .
