Hours after India and China reached an agreement to end the nearly four-year military standoff in eastern Ladakh, the disengagement process started at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with the dismantling of structures that were erected in 2020.
On October 21, India announced that it has reached an agreement with China on patrolling along the LAC. The announcement marked a major breakthrough in ending the over four-year-long military standoff between the two countries, which began after troops were engaged in a violent confrontation in Galwan Valley in May 2020. The next day, China also confirmed the deal.
Temporary structures removed
As per defence sources to CNN-News18, some temporary tents from Depsang and Demchok — the remaining friction points in the border dispute — were removed by both India and China.
Apart from this, some temporary structures have also been dismantled in the area, with Indian soldiers moving back to the west side of the Charding Nala, while Chinese personnel retreating to the east side of the Nala.
The disengagement process has been initiated even as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that a “broad consensus” has been achieved to restore the “ground situation” in certain areas based on the principles of equal and mutual security.
As per CNN-News18 sources, the current disengagement process, carried out by local commanders, is being done as per broad terms decided at a senior level.
When did disengagement process start?
The sources further said that the disengagement process at the LAC in eastern Ladakh commenced soon after the announcement of the pact, with local commanders meeting the very next day.
They further confirmed that removing tents would not mean pulling back. “As soon as the temporary structures, which are blocking the way, are removed, patrolling will begin,” sources added.
According to sources quoted by India Today in a report, there are around 10-12 temporary structures and around 12 tents on both sides, which are to be removed.
The report also said that on Thursday (October 24), the Chinese army reduced the number of their vehicles in the area and the Indian side also withdrew some troops.
‘In controlled manner’
A report by The Times of India (ToI) quoted sources as saying that the temporary posts and structures which were erected at both the face-off sites after May 2020 were now being dismantled in a “controlled manner as part of the modalities worked out by the tactical commanders on the ground.”
Sources to ToI further said that the dismantling and pullback by the troops will take around a week’s time, following which, the local commanders will verify it physically on the ground before the coordinated patrolling begins.
As per the India-China pact on “patrolling arrangements” announced on Monday (October 21), Chinese troops will no longer block Indian soldiers at the “Bottleneck” area in the strategically-located Depsang Plains, which is around 18-km inside what India considers its own territory.
“The aim is to ensure no clashes and violence takes place,” ToI quoted sources as saying.
On Wednesday (October 23), Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the 16th Brics Summit in Kazan city of Russia where both the leaders endorsed the agreement.
The two leaders also issued directions to revive various bilateral dialogue mechanisms, signalling attempts to normalise ties that were affected by the 2020 military clash at Galwan.
With inputs from agencies.
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