Amid Border Standoff, India, Bhutan Converge At Event For Chinese Army

Since mid-June, a military standoff continues between Indian and Chinese troops in Doklam - a disputed tri-junction where the borders of India (Sikkim), China and Bhutan converge.

The 4,000-km-long LAC is divided into three sectors- western (Ladakh), middle (Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh), and eastern (Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.) The latest transgression by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops took place in the middle sector. The incident took place in the morning at 8:30 am and came into Indian Territory up to 800m to 1 km. In July a year ago also, Chinese troops had transgressed into Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.

Officials speaking off the record said such incidents have happened in the past and are best sorted out locally.

People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops came almost a kilometre into the Chamoli area of Uttarakhand.

In the second incident, Chinese troops also threatened shepherds and asked them to leave along with their animals from the area, sources said.

The ongoing tensions built up following the construction of a road by China in Bhutan's Doklam region.

Officials say there have been many such transgressions as both sides have different perceptions of the Line of Actual Control. Barahoti is an 80 sq km sloping pasture about 140 km from the Uttarakhand capital Dehradun.

The deadlock between Indian and Chinese soldiers is continuing for weeks over border dispute and it's now getting worse.

It is reported that there were about 200-300 Chinese soldiers. It is also one of three border posts in what is known the "middle sector", comprising Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

However, after the 1962 war, troops from Indo-Tibetan Border Force patrolled the area with weapons in a non-combative manner, under which the barrel of the gun is positioned downward.

Last week, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi on the sidelines of the BRICS security meet and discussed "major problems".

ITBP men patrol the area in civil clothes.