In an event that has the potential to greatly impact the India China relationship, the Indian Army says one Army Colonel, two soldiers were killed Monday night in ‘violent faceoff’ with China’s People’s Liberation Army in Galwan valley of Ladakh.
“During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday night with casualties. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation,” read the official statement from the Indian Army.
There was a continuous effort from both sides to peacefully resolve the dispute over Chinese military buildup. Both India and China were continuing talks at the Brigade Commander and Battalion Commander level in Eastern Ladakh in Galwan valley area and Hot Springs.
A large number of Indian and Chinese troops were involved in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation in Galwan Valley for the most part of the last five weeks.
The incident comes days after Indian Army Chief Gen MM Naravane said both sides have begun disengaging from Galwan Valley.
China on Tuesday blamed India of crossing a disputed border between the two countries, as the Indian army said three of its soldiers had been killed in violent clashes. The border between India and Pakitan have mostly been peaceful despite differing percention of where their borders lie.
The violent clash is significant because it breaks the ‘no-shots-fired’ status of border dispute which lasted around 40 years.
Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Indian troops crossed the borderline twice on Monday, “provoking and attacking Chinese personnel, resulting in a serious physical confrontation between border forces on the two sides”.
Here’s the timeline of events we know so far of India-China deadly clash
- During the de-escalation process in Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place last night with casualties.
- Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation.
- On Monday, Brigade Commander and company level talks happened in Eastern Ladakh between India and China.
- The talks are happening near patrolling point 14, near the mouth of Galwan Valley and patrolling point 17 at Hot Spring Area.
- Meanwhile, according to reports, China’s foreign office has said it hopes India will not take unilateral action and won’t let the situation to further escalate.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, the three service chiefs and External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar over India-China clash at LAC in Eastern Ladakh.
