India-China disengagement along LAC: Patrolling resumes in Ladakh’s Demchok, will commence soon in Depsang Plains

This is in line with the agreement between India and China, announced on October 21, two days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping held talks on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Russia to repair bilateral ties.

Relations between the two countries plunged after Chinese incursions in eastern Ladakh were detected in May 2020, triggering a military standoff along the LAC.

The resumption of patrolling in Demchok came a day after the two armies exchanged sweets at border points along the LAC Thursday, also the Diwali day.

Earlier, the Chinese PLA had cut off Indian access to patrolling points (PPs) 10 to 13 in the Depsang Plains. In the Demchok area, Chinese troops had been squatting at the Charding Nullah.

Indian and Chinese Army personnel exchange Diwali greetings at Hot Springs in eastern Ladakh on Thursday. (PTI)

In keeping with the agreement reached, talks are taking place at the level of local commanders — Brigadier rank and below.

This agreement is important because the Chinese side, until a year ago, showed reluctance to even discuss Depsang Plains and Demchok while it agreed on disengagement at other friction points — PP 14 (Galwan valley), PP 15 (Hot Springs), PP 17A (Gogra), north and south banks of Pangong Tso.

The disengagement process in Demchok and Depsang Plains also involved removal of temporary structures.

Soldiers of the Indian and Chinese Army at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the occasion of Diwali (Photo: Indian Army via ANI)

It marks the first step of a three-step process — disengagement, de-escalation and de-induction of troops in the border areas.

In Beijing, the Chinese military said Thursday that troops of India and China are “making progress” in implementing the agreement to disengage from the friction points. But it declined to comment on reports that the disengagement had been completed.

Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence, told a media briefing in Beijing that “China and India have reached resolutions on the issues concerning the border areas through diplomatic and military channels”.

“The frontline troops of the two militaries are making progress in implementing resolutions in an orderly manner,” he said, reiterating the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s comments Wednesday.

He, however, declined to comment on reports that Indian and Chinese troops had completed disengagement in Demchok and Depsang Plains and patrolling is set to commence.

On the bilateral agreement to disengage troops, Colonel Zhang said President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the margins of the BRICS summit in Kazan.

“Both sides have agreed that China and India should view and handle the bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective and make sure that the differences on specific issues will not affect the overall relationship,” he said.

“We hope the Indian side will work together with China to take important common understandings between the two leaders as guidance and continuously implement the above-mentioned resolutions and jointly safeguard peace and tranquillity along the border areas,” he said.

— With PTI from Beijing