While India and China work towards complete disengagement in all friction areas, it is at the same time also necessary to ensure stability on the ground

India on Thursday categorically maintained that the way ahead to resolve the standoff in eastern Ladakh will be to refrain from making any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo while both sides continue their discussions to achieve complete disengagement in all friction areas.

“The way ahead will be to refrain from making any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo, while the two sides continue their discussions to achieve complete disengagement in all friction areas and to ensure full restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said during a virtual weekly media briefing.

“Disengagement of troops is a complex process which would require mutually agreed reciprocal actions,” he said.

“Even as the two sides work towards complete disengagement in all friction areas, it is at the same time also necessary to ensure stability on the ground. The latest senior commanders meeting should be seen in this overall context,” Anurag Srivastava said.

India and China held the sixth round of Corps commander-level talks on Monday following which both sides announced a series of decisions including to stop sending more troops to the frontline, refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground and avoid taking any actions that may further complicate matters.

The MEA spokesperson said the talks gave the senior commanders an opportunity to have “candid and in-depth” exchange of views on stabilising the situation along the Line of Actual Control.

The MEA spokesperson further said the next meeting under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on the India-China border issue is likely to take place soon.