India on Thursday expressed hope that the tension with China, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, can be amicably settled with further discussions ensuring complete disengagement at all friction points.
Talking to media persons, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that the two sides continue to maintain communication through diplomatic and military channels and these discussions have helped both sides in enhancing the understanding of each other's positions.
Srivastava, when asked about the next round of Sino-India military and diplomatic talks on the over seven-month-long border standoff, did not give a direct reply but said India expects that further talks will help in reaching an agreement for complete disengagement of troops in eastern Ladakh.
"It is our expectation that the further discussions will help both sides to achieve an agreement on a mutually acceptable solution for ensuring complete disengagement in all friction points along the LAC in the Western sector and full restoration of peace and tranquillity as early as possible," said Srivastava.
Nearly 50,000 Indian Army troops are deployed in a high state of combat readiness in various mountainous locations in eastern Ladakh in sub-zero conditions as multiple rounds of talks between the two sides have not yielded concrete outcome to resolve the standoff.
China has also deployed an equal number of troops, according to officials. The standoff between the two sides erupted in early May. The last round of military talks had taken place on November 6 during which both sides broadly discussed disengagement of troops from specific friction points
