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Process of withdrawal of Indian-Chinese troops in Eastern Ladakh almost complete, consideration of resuming patrolling in the buffer zone

By News Update

New Delhi. The disengagement process between Indian and Chinese troops in the sensitive Depsang and Demchok areas of eastern Ladakh is almost complete. Defense sources have informed that both the Indian Army and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China are confirming the withdrawal of their personnel deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and removal of military infrastructure. According to sources, the verification of this process will be done jointly by the armies of both the countries. This will confirm that both sides have vacated their positions as per the agreed terms and all temporary military installations have been withdrawn. Sources say that “at present a basis of confidence has been built in the process.”

However, there has been no discussion so far on the issue of four buffer zones including the Galwan area. According to sources, the decision to resume patrolling in these areas will be taken after discussions at the Corps Commander level, which may take place after successful conduct of patrolling in Depsang and Demchok. Local military commanders from both countries discuss the hotline every morning, coordinating planned operations for the day. In addition, they also hold personal meetings at designated points once or twice daily to ensure alignment of protocol and process.

This development has come to light at a time when India's Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar had said on October 27 that India and China would soon resume patrolling on the LAC. He had said that this step would restore the situation before April 2020, when the border standoff started. Last week, India announced that it had reached an agreement with China to resume patrolling along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, a significant step towards ending the four-year-long standoff. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Jaishankar had said that an agreement has been reached on patrolling and withdrawal of troops in Depsang and Demchok areas. Jaishankar said, “This process will take time. This is an issue of disengagement and patrolling, where both the armies had come very close to each other and are now returning to their bases. We hope that the situation of 2020 will be restored.”

However, the External Affairs Minister also clarified that the successful agreement with China regarding patrolling on LAC does not mean that all the issues between the two countries have been resolved. During an event in Pune, he said, “This latest step of disengagement of troops is the result of the agreement reached on October 21, in which it was agreed on patrolling in Depsang and Demchok. With this, next steps can now be considered. It is not that all the issues have been resolved, but this is the first phase of withdrawal of troops and we have succeeded in reaching that stage.”

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