During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday night with casualties on both sides. 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. Military commanders of the two armies are holding tals at the site. Major General Abhijit Bapat, commander of the Karu-based HQs 3 Infantry Division is holding talks from India.
This is the first Indian casualties in a clash with the China's PLA since 1975 when an Indian patrol was ambushed by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Raksha Mantri reviewed the current operational situation in Eastern Ladakh, consequent to yesterday's violent faceoff on the LAC, along with the CDS and the three service Chiefs. The External Affairs Minister was also present during the meeting, Indian Army reported.
On May 5, the tensions started escalating around the Pangong Tso lake in Ladakh, when Indian and Chinese army personnel clashed with iron rods, sticks, and even resorted to stone-pelting.
A meeting was held between the Corps Commander based in Leh and the Chinese Commander on 6 June in the Chushul-Moldo region. The high level militarily commanders' meeting took place after Indian and Chinese ambassadors joined along side the teams of the border working mechanism. While Officials cautioned against expectations of any immediate resolution said there could be many such meetings between the commanders of both Armies.
The meeting follows a month-long standoff between the two nations in Ladakh along the western sector at the LAC.
On 13 June, Chief of Army staff Manoj Mukund Naravane had said: "I would like to assure everyone that entire situation along our borders with China is under control. We're having a series of talks which started with Corps Commander level and has been followed up with meetings at local levels between commanders of equivalent ranks."
According to a senior officer of Indian Army, the situation is grave and very serious.