Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 31

Fresh tensions have erupted between India and China. This time at the South Bank of Pangong Tso, a 135 km glacial melt lake, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh.

The incident occurred on the night intervening August 29 and August 30, the Ministry of Defence said on Monday morning.

“The Peoples Liberation Army carried out provocative military movements to change the status quo (at the LAC). Indian troops pre-empted this activity on the Southern Bank of Pangong Tso and undertook measures to strengthen our positions and thwart Chinese intentions to unilaterally change facts on ground,” read the MoD statement.

Brigade Commander-level Flag Meeting is in progress at Chushul along the LAC to resolve the issues.

The Army has so far not responded to questions on injuries or any casualties in the incident. Sources, however, said additional troops had been rushed to the spot and the surrounding areas.

This action by the PLA troops violated the previous consensus arrived at during military and diplomatic engagements following the standoff in Eastern Ladakh since May this year.

The Indian Army is committed to maintaining peace and tranquility through dialogue, but is also equally determined to protect its territorial integrity, said the MoD.

Since May, there had been clashes at Galwan Valley and North bank of Pangong Tso. The South Bank of the lake has multiple Indian Army posts. The one at Thakung is smack along the LAC.  From Thakung a route leads to Chushul.