Amid the tense standoff between India and China, on Saturday, 13 June, Indian Army chief general MM Naravane said that “situation along our borders with China is under control.”
Army chief was further quoted by a national news agency, Asian News International (ANI) saying that a series of meetings between senior military commanders from both sides had resulted in “a lot of disengagement” and that “all perceived differences that we [India and China] have will be set to rest”.
“I would like to assure everyone that the entire situation along our borders with China is under control,” the army chief general said. “We’re having a series of talks which started with Corps Commander level and has been followed up with meetings at local levels between commanders of equivalent ranks.”
“As a result, a lot of disengagement has taken place and we are hopeful that through the continued dialogue we’re having, all perceived differences that we (India and China) have will be set to rest,” the general added.
On Friday the two sides held further talks–this time at the Major General-level–to resolve the stand-off. This was the fifth round of talks since reports of skirmishes and incursions by Chinese troops in Ladakh’s Pangong Lake region in early May led to an escalation of tension.
Earlier, the foreign ministry also claimed in a statement that the meeting took place in a “cordial and positive atmosphere” and that both sides had agreed that an “early resolution” would contribute to further development of the relationship between the two countries.
The Chinese foreign ministry, in a statement, said both the countries had agreed to work to maintain peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and resolve the standoff through talks.
