The stand-off between India and China over latter’s incursion in ladakh ended on Sunday evening with both sides pulling back their troops to pre-April 15 position when the intrusion took place.
After tough negotiations at diplomatic level, the two sides facing each other at a gap of 100 metres during the 17-day-long face-off withdrew to their respective positions around 7.30 pm on Sunday. The decision to withdraw simultaneously was taken at the fourth flag meeting between the local commanders of two armies in ladakh on Sunday.
The earlier three meetings last week had failed to make any breakthrough as China claimed that the encroached land was its territory, while the Indian side reiterated its demand to pull back to pre-April 15 position. The Chinese demanded India to dismantle all bunkers and other infrastructure built between Karakoram and eastern edge of Siachen, including Depsang Valley where the face-off took place after the Chinese came in 19 km.
Incidentally, The Pioneer was the first to report on Sunday that a breakthrough was on the anvil in the next few days before External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid’s visit to Beijing. It had come under a cloud with China refusing to withdraw.
The newspaper also reported that the agreement between the two countries to break the impasse was that India will go slow on constructing new bunkers and other developmental works, including roads in ladakh. China, in turn will immediately pull back its troops.
India, however, refused to halt modernisation of Daulat Beg Oldie and Nayoma airfields as they are strategically important to sustain logistical support to jawans posted in forward locations on the lAC in ladakh. Both these airfields became operational three years back and can sustain transport planes like AN-32 and C-130J.
It may be mentioned here that Daulat Beg Oldie airfield is about 30 km from the face-off site. Moreover, the Depsang Valley is strategically important for India as Karakoram Highway is only 100 odd kms from there and China wants to counter it by cutting our patrol routes.
The Chinese troops numbering about 40 had intruded 19 km into Depsang Valley and pitched five tents there. A team of 40 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and ladakh Scouts were engaged in a face-off since the Chinese came there on April 15, with both the sides carrying out banner drills asking each other to go back.
China refused to pull back its troops all these days claiming that its patrol was in its territory and had not violated the line of Actual Control (lAC). India, however, maintained that Chinese had intruded at least 19 km into ladakh from India's perceived claim line in Depsang Valley.
With hardening of stance by Beijing, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid's visit to China on May 9 and Premier li Keqiang's visit to India on May 20 came under a shadow. Samajwadi Party and BJP urged the Government not to send the External Affairs Minister to China.
In fact, Khurshid said in Tehran two days back that he may not go to Beijing as its response to resolve the issue was not satisfactory. However, New Delhi and Beijing maintained that stand-off will be resolved at the diplomatic and political level.
This came about after the Army advised the Government that diplomatic and political efforts would resolve the issue. Moreover, the Government had asked the Army not to block the supply lines of the Chinese, and suggested to suspend aggressive patrolling along the lAC.