According to the Indian Army, a hotline has been created between the Indian Army in Kongra La, north Sikkim, and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in Khamba Dzong in the Tibet Autonomous Region to promote the spirit of trust and cordial ties along the border.

The inauguration was attended by ground commanders from both armies, and a message of goodwill and harmony was sent via the Hotline, according to the Army. It was reported that the event coincided with ‘PLA Day’ on August 1.

The Army stated that the two nations’ Armed Forces have well-established systems for communication at the ground commanders’ level and that these hotlines in various sectors go a long way in improving the same and ensuring peace and tranquillity at the borders.

In eastern Ladakh, India and China have two military hotlines, among them Chushul and Daulat Beg Oldi.

The two sides held the 12th round of Corps Commander talks on Saturday at Moldo on the Chinese side. The details of the outcome are awaited.

In addition to the Corps Commander level discussions, the two sides have had 10 Major General level talks, 55 Brigadier level talks, and about 1,450 conversations across the two hotlines since the standoff began in eastern Ladakh in May 2020.

During a telephone discussion in February, India and China’s Foreign Ministers agreed to create a new hotline between the Foreign Ministries to guarantee “timely communication” in the context of the Ladakh standoff.

This will be in addition to the long-delayed hotline between the Director-General of Military Operations of the Indian Army and China’s Western Theatre Command, which is scheduled to be created soon.