India and China Begin Troop Withdrawal from Eastern Ladakh, Friendship Restored; Patrolling to Resume Across LAC Within 4-5 Days
The process of withdrawing Indian and Chinese troops from the Demchok and Depsang regions in the Eastern Ladakh sector has begun. Four days ago, a major agreement was signed between the two countries. According to the terms of the agreement, Indian soldiers have started to bring back their vehicles and ammunition.
According to the news agency ANI, Indian troops began to withdraw on Friday. Prior to this, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar mentioned that an agreement on the border patrolling system between India and China was reached on October 21. This agreement aims to restore the situation to what it was before May 2020 (before the Galwan clash).
Media reports indicate that on October 21, at 4:30 AM, the corps commanders of both nations signed the final agreement. Following this, the armies of both countries started withdrawing in small groups.
Ongoing De-escalation at the Border
According to a report by the Times of India, soldiers have already removed some temporary structures like tents and sheds. However, it will take some time to complete the full withdrawal.
The Indian Army is hopeful that troops will now be able to reach Patrolling Points 10, 11, 11A, 12, and 13 in Depsang. This area includes the Table Top Plateau, located at an altitude of 16,000 feet, stretching north towards Daulat Beg Oldi and the Karakoram Pass.
In the south, troops are also withdrawing from the Charging Ninglung Nala track junction near Demchok. This is the same region where China’s People’s Liberation Army had previously set up some tents within the Indian territory.
Patrolling to Resume at 63 Points
If all goes well, patrolling can resume within 10 days. Patrolling is expected to restart at all 63 points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with mutual agreement. This includes resuming patrols up to Finger 8 at the northern edge of Pangong Tso, where the Indian Army had previously been restricted to Finger 4.
Indian soldiers will not obstruct China’s patrolling teams in this region. To avoid direct confrontation, both armies will inform each other in advance about their patrolling dates and times. The objective is to ensure that no clashes or violence occur between the soldiers.
What is the India-China Agreement?
China and India have agreed to restore the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh to what it was in April 2020. This means that the Chinese military will now withdraw from the areas it had encroached upon.
On Monday, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikram Misri stated that a proposal has been developed to address issues arising in border areas post-2020, including patrolling. Both nations are expected to take steps to implement this.
In April 2020, following military exercises, the Chinese military encroached upon at least six regions in Eastern Ladakh. However, after two years, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) withdrew from four of those locations. No agreement was reached regarding patrolling at the friction points in Daulat Beg Oldi and Demchok, leaving Indian troops restricted in several areas.
