Days after Prime Minister visited Ladakh post the bloody faceoff in Galwan valley, India and China disengaged from the contentious sites in the Valley and at Gogra-Hot Springs areas of eastern Ladakh.
Multiple news reports suggest ”People’s Liberation Army is removing some of its tents and temporary structures at the Patrolling Points-14, 15 and 17A in the Galwan Valley and Gogra-Hotsprings, with some of their vehicles being moved back by about a kilometer till now.” Both sides have also created a buffer zone at Galwan Valley.
On June 30, India and China had agreed to disengage in phased wise step-by-step manner from Galwan and Gogra-Hot Springs areas during the meet held between 14 Corps commander and South Xinjiang Military District chief at Chushul. However, tension continues to simmer at Pangong Tso, where China has built a large number of fortifications.
The disengagement process is a long-drawn procedure, and reports suggest India being extremely cautious is verifying each step.
What’s the proposed disengagement plan?
- Troops to gradually move back distances of 2.5 to 3 km
- Military build-ups along the LAC to be de-inducted
What’s the situation at the border?
Reports suggest, 20,000 Chinese soldiers are currently deployed at 4th Motorized Infantry Division, 6th Mechanized Infantry Division and the Western Theatre Command in eastern Ladakh.
India, on the other hand has inducted three additional infantry divisions (each has 10,000-12,000 soldiers), artillery guns, surface-to-air missile systems,tanks and armoured vehicles in the same area
NSA speaks to Chinese Minister after NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi held a telephone conversation yesterday.
MEA issued a statement over the development saying the two sides ”had a frank & in-depth exchange of views on the recent developments in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas.
In this regard, they further agreed that both sides should complete the ongoing disengagement process along the LAC expeditiously. The two sides should also ensure a phased and stepwise de-escalation in the India-China border areas.
It was also agreed that NSA Ajit Doval & Chinese FM Wang Yi will continue their conversations to ensure full and enduring restoration of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas in accordance with the bilateral agreements and protocols.
They re-affirmed that :both sides should strictly respect and observe the Line of Actual Control and should not take any unilateral action to alter the status quo and work together to avoid any incident in the future that could disturb peace and tranquillity in border areas.”