hotline was established between the Indian Army in Kongra La, North Sikkim, and China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) at Khamba Dzong in the Tibetan Autonomous Region on Sunday to further the spirit of trust and cordiality between the two forces along the Indo-China border.
The event, which coincided with 2021's PLA Day on August 1, happened a day after the 12th round of Corps Commander-level talks between India and China which took place to resolve the 14-month-long Ladakh standoff.
“The armed forces of the two countries have well-established mechanisms for communication at ground commanders' level. These hotlines in various sectors go a long way in enhancing the same and maintaining peace and tranquility at the borders,” the Indian Army said in a statement.
The inauguration of the new hotline was attended by ground commanders of the respective Armies and a message of friendship and harmony was exchanged through the line.
The inauguration of the new hotline was attended by ground commanders of the two armies and a “message of friendship and harmony” was exchanged through it.
Officials said with the setting up of the hotline, the ground commanders will be able to speak directly and resolve any differences if they crop up.
In May last year, both the armies had a face-off in North Sikkim's Naku La, a region located at an altitude of 16,000 feet.
The establishment of the hotline assumed significance as it came amid a continued standoff between the two armies in a number of friction points in eastern Ladakh.
Meanwhile, the Saturday's Corps Commander-level meeting between the Indian and Chinese Armies was held at Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The purpose of these high-level military talks was to take forward the disengagement process in some friction areas in eastern Ladakh. This included the Hot Spring and Gogra post areas.
The latest round of talks took place after a gap of more than 3.5 months. The 11th round of military dialogue had taken place on April 9 at the Chushul border point on the Indian side of the LAC and it lasted for around 13 hours.
