India and China locked in stalemate over troop disengagement in eastern Ladakh

NEW DELHI: India and China are yet to agree on the modalities for the proposed troop disengagement in eastern Ladakh, making it virtually certain their soldiers will remain deployed on the forbidding heights through the long and harsh winter ahead.

The seven-month-long military confrontation in eastern Ladakh “is frozen in time” now, with “no meaningful progress” being made after the eighth round of corps commander-level talks on November 6.

“Talks have virtually stalled over the exact modalities and sequencing of steps for a mutually-acceptable pullback. China is yet to get back on the date for the ninth round of military dialogue,” said a source on Thursday.