The talks with China focused on finalizing the modalities for further de-escalation, and disengagement of troops from various friction points

At the fifth round of military talks with China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the Indian army has clearly stated that it will not compromise on India’s territorial integrity and added that disengagement of troops from Pangong Tso and a few other friction points in eastern Ladakh must be completed at the earliest, said a Hindustan Times report.

An intense negotiation session was held for around 11 hours on Sunday at a meeting point in Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between the senior commanders of the two armies. The Indian army firmly communicated that restoration of status quo ante in all areas of eastern Ladakh should be done, as per wire agency PTI sources mentioned in the Hindustan Times report.

The withdrawal of troops of the Chinese army has not moved forward from the Finger Four and Finger Eight areas in Pangong Tso as India had demanded. There has not been a complete withdrawal of troops from Gogra areas, as per the report.

The negotiation talks on Sunday focused on finalizing the modalities for further de-escalation, and disengagement of troops from various friction points. The Indian delegation was led by Lt Gen Harinder Singh, the commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps, and the Chinese side was headed by Major General Liu Lin, commander of the South Xinjiang military region as per the PTI sources quoted in the Hindustan Times report.

The earlier round of the Corps Commander-level talks was held on the Indian side of the LAC on July 14, said the report.

After the Galwan Valley standoff, the government has given the armed forces “full freedom” to give a “befitting” response to any Chinese attack along the LAC, the report said.