Days after complete disengagement by India and China from the Line Of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh, the Indian army on Friday commenced patrolling at Demchok. Patrolling at Depsang Valley is expected to resume shortly.

The two sides had disengaged from the two friction points in Demchok and Depsang, sources said here while informing that the Indian army has commenced patrolling. Indian and Chinese troops have completed disengagement at two friction points at Demchok and Depsang Plains in eastern Ladakh and patrolling is set to commence soon at these points, they had said on Wednesday.

The following day, Indian and Chinese troops exchanged sweets at several border points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the occasion of Diwali. The traditional practice was observed a day after both the countries completed troop disengagement at the two friction points, bringing a fresh thaw in India-China relations.

Sources had earlier said the areas and patrolling status were expected to be moved back to pre-April 2020 level. The verification process after disengagement was in progress and patrolling modalities were to be decided between ground commanders, the sources had said on Wednesday. “Talks will continue at the local commander level,” they had added.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on October 21 said in Delhi that an agreement was finalised between India and China 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 Chinese 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.

The agreement was firmed up on patrolling and disengagement of troops along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, a breakthrough to end the over four-year standoff.

The move marks a significant development in the pursuit of reduced tension along the LAC in eastern Ladakh since the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades. Twenty Indian Army personnel including the commanding officer were killed in the clash.  At least 40 Chinese soldiers also died in the clash. The ties between the two Asian nations had nosedived following the clash.