NEW DELHI, 03 October 2021, (TON): Army Chief General M M Naravane has said “the 13th round of Corps Commander-level talks between India and China could take place in the second week of October.”

Gen Naravane shared these details in an interview with news agency ANI in eastern Ladakh, where he is on a two-day visit.

He said “the situation over the last six months or so has been quite normal. The talks have been going on for more than a year now.”

“We are hopeful to have the 13th round of talks very soon, perhaps as soon as next week, in the second week of October. We are confident that as we discuss things with each other, we will be able to reach a consensus on how this disengagement will take place.”

The Army Chief expressed confidence that “by and by, all the friction points will get resolved”. He said “even when the talks had started, people were doubtful whether talks will resolve anything”, and mentioned that he was of the “firm opinion that we can resolve our differences through dialogue, and that is what has happened over the last few months.”

India and China have been involved in a military standoff in eastern Ladakh for almost 17 months now. While the two sides disengaged from most friction points, including Galwan Valley, north and south banks of Pangong Tso, and Gogra Post, a small number of Chinese troops continue to be on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control at Hot Springs.