New Delhi:
The eyeball-to-eyeball situation between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakh's Chumur has evolved into a loudspeaker war.
On Day 2 of Chinese President's Xi Jinping's visit, as discussions on the border issue were on with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two armies in Ladakh pushed back. In some places, it was even a little over one kilometer. From that distance, the two sides used loudspeakers to communicate with each other as per protocol, senior government officials told NDTV.
The increasing distance could be the first sign of disengagement, said officials. It also marks a slight de-escalation of the tension that prevailed in the morning, when over a thousand troops from each side were toe-to-toe.
The third transgression by the Chinese People's Liberation Army in Ladakh's Chumur had started on Thursday morning - hours before Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in India. By late night, the situation had turned grave as another 1000 troops entered 4-5 km inside Indian territory.(Read:
On President Xi Jinping's Day One in India, Over 1,000 Chinese Troops Intrude 4-5 Km Inside Ladakh)
The fresh transgression had come as a surprise to the Indian troops, who had been aware of two other transgressions - one in Chumur and another in Demchok - which had been building up for a week.(Read:
Ahead of Chinese President's Visit, A Fresh Transgression by China in Ladakh)
Going by the scale, the last was also the worst Chinese transgression in years and despite the late hour, India had rushed troops at the border.
Two flag meetings held on Wednesday failed to make any progress. But sources said the situation was under control and there was "nothing to panic" about.
The standoff has cast a shadow on President Xi's visit to India, the first by a Chinese head of state in eight years.
In Delhi, at a meeting with President Xi, PM Modi stressed on the need to resolve the dispute quickly and clarify the Line of Actual Control, the de facto border between the two countries. (Read:
Need to Clarify Border, Resolve Dispute Quickly, Says PM Modi Amid Border Stand-off)
"The border has yet to be demarcated. Sometimes there maybe incidents but both sides are capable of handling situation with border mechanisms so that these don't have a large impact," President Xi said.