India and China are likely to complete troops’ disengagement from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh by October 28-29, and commence patrolling thereafter as agreed upon. Both sides started disengagement, and moved back from the two friction points in Demchok and Depsang plains two days ago, sources said here on Friday.
They said patrolling will begin at the two friction points once the disengagement is complete and both sides will move their respective troops and dismantle temporary structures. Eventually, they added, the patrolling status is expected to move back to pre-April 2020 level.
India is hopeful of commencing patrolling at Points 10, 11, 11A, 12 and 13 at tabletop plateau in Depsang.
The agreement framework for disengagement was first agreed upon at the diplomatic level and then military-level talks took place, sources said, adding the nitty-gritty of agreement was worked in Corps Commander-level talks.
Adhering to agreements between the two sides, Indian troops have begun to pull back equipment to rear locations in these areas. Five tents on each side in the Demchok area and half of the temporary structures in Depsang have been dismantled. Indian soldiers are moving back to the west side of the Charding Nala, while Chinese soldiers retreat to the east side, sources said.
There are about 10 to 12 temporary structures and around 12 tents on both sides, all of which are set to be removed. Once all tents and temporary structures have been fully removed, a joint verification process will begin, both on the ground and through aerial surveys.
Moreover, the Chinese army reduced the number of their vehicles in the area, and the Indian army also withdrew some troops in the area. After this process is completed, patrolling is likely to resume in Depsang and Demchok within the next four to five days, sources said.
Both sides are coordinating the disengagement through communication. Each morning, local military commanders from both nations talk on the hotline to discuss the planned actions for the day, and they also meet at designated points once or twice daily, according to sources.
The removal of tents and temporary infrastructure is progressing smoothly, and there is cautious optimism that this momentum will help build confidence for future talks. However, the focus remains on maintaining trust and ensuring that any further steps are mutually agreeable, it was learnt.
The ties between the two Asian giants had nosedived following a fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on October 21 said in Delhi that the agreement was finalised following negotiations over the past several weeks and that it would lead to a resolution of the issues that arose in 2020.
On October 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China President Xi Jinping endorsed the agreement on patrolling and disengagement along the LAC in eastern Ladakh during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan in Russia.
China also confirmed the pact the next day with Beijing saying that a resolution has been reached on “relevant matters” and that it will work with New Delhi to implement these resolutions. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said, going forward, his country will work with India to implement these resolutions.
The meeting between the two leaders was followed by directions to revive various bilateral dialogue mechanisms on both sides, signalling attempts to normalise relations.
Referring to New Delhi’s consistent position on the eastern Ladakh row, Misri, at a media briefing in Kazan after the bilateral meeting, had said restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas would create space for returning towards the path of normalisation of bilateral relations.
“This meeting happened, as you are all aware, close on the heels of the disengagement and patrolling agreement and the resolution of issues that had arisen in the India-China border areas in 2020,” he said.
