Indian Army on Monday clarified reports about a clash with Chinese soldiers at Naku La in Sikkim, stating that there was a minor face-off on January 20 and the same was resolved at local commanders level.The incident came just days before the ninth round of Corps Commanders-level meeting on January 24 aimed at ending the border standoff in eastern Ladakh. On Sunday, the meeting lasted for over 15 hours."It is clarified that there was a minor face-off at Nakula area of North Sikkim on 20 January 2021 and the same was resolved by local commanders as per established protocols," the Army said in a statement.
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The Indian Army also asked the media "to refrain from overplaying or exaggerating reports which are factually incorrect."There was a report that troops of both countries engaged in a clash after Indian Army restricted the Chinese PLA patrol team after they intruded into Indian territory at the same site where the first fight broke out on May 9, the videos of which had also gone viral.Troops of India and China have been locked-in an 8-month-long standoff in Ladakh region. Several rounds of military and diplomatic talks have been taken place to resolve the issues. However, no concrete breakthrough has been achieved so far.In August 2020, Indian Army thwarted Chinese attempt to intimidate Indian troops in the southern bank of Pangong Tso and captured a number of strategic heights in the Mukhpari, Rechin La and Magar hill areas.In June and July 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Leh to boost the morale of the Indian soldiers and also reviewed the prevailing security situation in the forward areas on northern borders.
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Last month, Indian Army chief Gen MM Naranave visited several high-altitude forward areas in eastern Ladakh including certain positions on the southern bank of Pangong lake and reviewed overall readiness.Beijing too denied reports of a major confrontation.Official State mouthpiece Global Times tweeted, "This is fake news. There is no record of this clash in the patrol log of the Chinese side. Small frictions often occur on China-India border area, but clash that caused multiple injuries will definitely be recorded and reported."
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