On Wednesday, India and China proceeded and effectively withdrew their forces deployed in the Depsang and Demchok regions in eastern Ladakh.
This development presents a chance for the two nations to move towards de-escalating tensions at the border. After the pull-out, they are now involved in a mutual withdrawal verification whereby each party confirms that troops and equipment have withdrawn to specified agreed to-lines from confrontation points. According to insiders, such verification conforms to the deal struck on October 21 to deescalate tensions along the LAC.
It was clarified that everybody signed off from Depsag and Demchok already with the ongoing confirmation process. The negotiations are expected to continue at the local level of the commanders, while the two armies are expected to recommence operations in the theatres soon.
The withdrawal, as part of the disengagement exercise, involves pulling back forces and infrastructure from these key locations – forward-thrown positions that were established by the Indian Army and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) after the military border confrontation in the Himalayan region began in May last year.
Those unruly issues of patrolling modalities will be between the ground commanders involving brigadiers and juniors in rank. To add dividends to positive relations, it has been arranged that on Thursday, both parties shall exchange sweets as a symbol of Diwali.
This development came right after the stagnation of negotiations that took place for two years between India and China. The last phase of pulling back from Patrolling Point-15 in the Gogra-Hot Springs area was done in September of 2022; further talks, however, were at a standstill. Due to these recent events, Chinese officials claimed that both armies are implementing the resolution of disengagement in the LAC in an orderly manner, providing hope for a better relations and a stable future in the area.
Join our whatsapp group for Latest updates