Following the disengagement, both sides will soon start the coordinated patrolling in their respective areas, sources added
The disengagement process between India and China in Depsang and Demchok in Eastern Ladakh was completed today, Indian Army sources said on Wednesday.
Following the disengagement, both sides will soon start the coordinated patrolling in their respective areas, sources added.
“Disengagement between India and China in Desaang and Demchok in Eastern Ladakh is completed. Coordinated patrolling is set to start by both sides soon. Ground commanders will continue to hold talks. Exchange of sweets on Diwali is set to happen tomorrow,” said Army sources.
India has been working towards resolving this long-standing dispute to restore the pre-April 2020 situation, prior to the onset of Chinese aggression in the area.
On Friday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed that frontier troops of both nations are engaged in “relevant work” in line with the agreement reached on border issues.
During a press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that this work is progressing “smoothly.”
When asked whether India and China had commenced troop withdrawals from friction points, Lin Jian said, “In accordance with the recent resolutions on border issues, the Chinese and Indian frontier troops are engaged in relevant work, progressing smoothly at present.”
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Russia, where both leaders welcomed the agreement on patrolling arrangements along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.
The meeting followed an announcement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) regarding the new patrolling arrangements along the LAC in the India-China border areas.
The border standoff between India and China, which began in 2020 in eastern Ladakh along the LAC, was triggered by Chinese military actions and led to a prolonged strain on bilateral relations.
US welcomes move
Meanwhile, the US State Department has welcomed the ‘reduction in tensions’ along the India-China border following the recent disengagement of troops of the two countries, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
State Department Spokesperson, Matthew Miller, said that Washington is closely monitoring the situation, and it also discussed with the Indian side on the matter, but also added that, the US has not played any role in the resolution.
“We are closely following the developments and we understand that both countries have taken initial steps to withdraw troops from the friction points along the LAC. We welcome any reduction in tensions along the border,” Miller said in the daily press briefing on Tuesday. “We have talked to our Indian partners and taken a brief on it, but we did not play any role in this resolution,” he added.
‘We can’t change our neighbours’
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Wednesday that the Late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to say that ‘we can change our friends but not our neighbours’.
“We believe in keeping cordial relations with our neighbours,” the Defence Minister said while referring to the consensus reached between India and China to restore the ground situation in certain areas along the LAC.
He said that sometimes situations arise and one has to ensure the safety and security of the borders.
“Keeping in mind the interests of our forces, the government will take necessary steps in this process of peace restoration,” the Defence Minister said while celebrating the festival of lights ‘Deepawali’ with troops at the 4 Corps Headquarters in Tezpur, Assam.
He added that India and China were in diplomatic and military talks to resolve their conflicts in some areas along the LAC.
“We have reached a consensus following our continuous efforts. We achieved this success due to your discipline and courage. We will continue this process of peace restoration on the basis of the consensus,” he said.
Addressing the soldiers during Barakhana, Singh commended the unwavering spirit, steadfast commitment and remarkable courage of the troops who serve on the frontlines in difficult circumstances, terming them as a true source of inspiration to the youth.
He stated that the nation will forever remain indebted to the soldiers who serve the motherland with unmatched bravery and dedication.
He urged the soldiers to remain alert and ready to deal with threats which may emerge from the ever-evolving global security scenario.
Earlier, the Defence Minister conducted a thorough review of the formation’s operational readiness. He was briefed on the infrastructure development along the LAC and the employment of cutting-edge military equipment and technology to enhance operational efficiency.
He commended the exemplary dedication and outstanding services rendered by all ranks of the Corps under challenging conditions and complimented for the excellent work carried out by the Corps for nation-building in border areas.
Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi; General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command Lt Gen RC Tewari and other senior officials of the Indian Army were present on the occasion.
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