The disengagement process between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh’s Depsang and Demchok areas is in its final stage, Defence sources said here on Tuesday.
Official sources on October 25 said that the disengagement process would be completed by the 28th to 29th of this month and the patrolling by the Indian and Chinese troops will resume on October 30.
As a part of the process, both the armies have also dismantled the temporary tents and structures, sources said.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on October 20 had said that an agreement was reached on the patrolling arrangement between the two countries, paving the way for the withdrawal of troops of both India and China and restoration of the situation of April 2020. After this, the process of withdrawal of troops started on October 22.
On October 26, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian at a briefing said that the disengagement process between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh is “going on smoothly”, in keeping with the agreements reached between the two sides.
It may be mentioned that India and China reached an agreement on patrolling along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, ending the over four-year-long military standoff.
The agreement was arrived at only for the two friction points of Depsang and Demchok, and “talks are still underway” for other areas, sources had said.
After the disengagement, the areas and patrolling status are expected to be moved back to the pre-April 2020 level. UNI RBE SSP
