Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday told the troops in Ladakh that the “progress” of the India-China talks so far suggested the border situation should be resolved, but said he could not give any “guarantee”.

He, however, asserted that no one could “touch or capture even an inch of India territory”, a comment many veterans castigated as an echo of the “no intrusion” claim Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made four weeks ago.

Rajnath also desisted from naming China, a policy Modi has been following through the 10-week-old standoff.

The defence minister’s comments came a day after India’s army and foreign ministry had described the disengagement process as “intricate” and “complex”, appearing to imply China was resisting the Indian demand for a restoration of status quo ante.

“Based on the progress of the talks so far, the situation should be resolved. But to what extent it will be resolved, I cannot guarantee,” Rajnath told the troops.

“However, I want to assure you that no power on earth can touch or capture even an inch of India territory.”

Rajnath, earlier scheduled to visit Ladakh on July 3 but edged out at the last minute by Modi, addressed the soldiers much closer to the action than the Prime Minister had.

While Modi had spoken at Nimu, 200km from the frontier, Rajnath faced the troops at the Lukung post, 42km from the Finger 4 area on the Pangong Lake’s banks where the Chinese have dug in since May 5.

India claims territory till Finger 8 in the area but the Chinese have advanced 8km up to Finger 4 from their erstwhile position at Finger 8.

Sources say China has so far shown no intent of pulling back either from the Pangong Lake or from the Depsang Plains, where its troops are said to have transgressed 18km into India-claimed territory.

A military veteran asked: “Why are these talks going on if no one is occupying our territory and everything is hunky-dory on the China frontier? Why are the army and the external affairs ministry saying the disengagement process is intricate and complex?”