Indian soldiers were bound by pact

New Delhi : The 20 Indian soldiers killed in the violent stand-off with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Galwan valley of Ladakh, did not use the firearms they were carrying as per the two bilateral agreements between India and China.

India's Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar claimed that the Indian troops at Galwan valley on June 15 were carrying arms, as the soldiers on border duty always do, "especially when leaving post".

However, he added that as per 1996 and 2005 agreements between India and China, the troops of both sides are "not to use firearms during face-offs".

However, the Chinese troops as per reports, were carrying iron rods, batons wrapped in barbed wire and clubs embedded with nails and used them against Indian soldiers, which resulted in a hand-to-hand combat.

After the Indians called for reinforcements from a post about two miles away, up to 600 men got engaged in combat using stones, batons, iron rods.