As India and China hold new talks, military refills with winter supplies and kits

New Delhi:

India will be keen to ensure China’s substantial disengagement from the Fingers region along the shores of Lake Pangong in Ladakh during the fifth round of commander-level talks which began today.

Talks in Moldo, on the Chinese side of Chushul, were decided last night and are expected to revive the mutual disengagement of forces that were stranded in most areas other than Galwan, the site of the June 15 clashes. in which 20 Indian soldiers including a colonel were killed in close combat. The Indian military has also inflicted heavy losses on Chinese soldiers in the region, the worst clashes between Indian and Chinese soldiers along the line of effective control in more than 5 decades.

The latest satellite images of the Pangong Lake area from June 29 indicate that there was no progress beyond the initial Chinese disengagement when they moved their forces from Finger 4 to Finger 5.

Chinese soldiers continue to occupy positions deep on the slopes along Finger 5 and on the slopes extending to Finger 8. India believes the actual line of control is at Finger 8 near Fort Khurnak , a historic site in the region. China believes that the LAC is lying to Finger 4. Since April, China has prevented Indian soldiers from patrolling beyond Finger 4 after heavy clashes that left dozens of Indian soldiers seriously injured.

The new satellite images continue to show the presence of large numbers of Chinese fast interceptor boats on Lake Pangong not far from the Sirijap post where Indian and Chinese soldiers clashed during the 1962 war.

The main objective of the fifth round of corps commander-level talks is expected to be the finalization of a framework for the full disengagement of troops from friction points, in addition to the timely withdrawal of forces and weapons from the bases of the corps. two armies, the sources said.

India said in a statement Thursday that the process of troop disengagement in eastern Ladakh was not yet complete, although progress was being made. This flies in the face of China’s claim that frontline forces from both countries have “completed” this exercise in most places along their border.

Last week, government sources told GalacticGaming that China did not withdraw its troops from all areas it entered in Ladakh near the LAC in May.

Chinese troops are still present in the Depsang Plains, Gogra and Fingers region along Lake Pangong where India and China had initiated a mutual disengagement by creating a buffer zone between the two sides, the two sides said. India.

With the disengagement process between the two sides taking time, GalacticGaming has learned that the Indian Army, which is fully prepared for deployment to the Ladakh region, is in the process of procuring essential supplies and equipment for the soldiers on the in front of. All soldiers are allowed to use a high altitude and extreme cold kit. Senior government sources told GalacticGaming: ‘We now need more of everything, clothing for individual soldiers, shoes and additional supplies for everyone. ”

To this end, four foreign suppliers have been identified, with most of the storage to be completed by November. For now, the military is also looking to stockpile other basic supplies – “ rations, kerosene, and F.O.L (fuel, oil and lubricant) storage are well advanced. ”

The Indian army has massed soldiers in defensive positions in Ladakh to cope with the heavy Chinese deployment in the region. While GalacticGaming does not report the number of troops deployed, it is widely believed that this is by far the largest deployment of forces India has ever made to the Ladakh region.

The eastern region of Ladakh, where India and China have been embroiled in a tense confrontation since April this year, presents some of the most inhospitable terrain on the planet, often at elevations above 16,000 feet above from sea level. The soldiers deployed here must fight the elements as long as they must be prepared to engage enemy forces.