LAGATAR24 DESK
New Delhi: India and China have officially completed the disengagement process in the Depsang and Demchok regions of Eastern Ladakh, sticking to the previously announced timeline. Sources from the Indian Army confirmed on Wednesday that verification of the withdrawal is underway, and the framework for coordinated patrolling will soon be established by ground commanders. In a gesture of goodwill, both nations plan to exchange sweets on Diwali, scheduled for Thursday.
Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong, speaking in Kolkata, highlighted the “many important understandings”reached between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their recent meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia. “Under this consensus, our relations will move forward smoothly,” Xu remarked, emphasizing the importance of handling differences amicably as neighboring countries.
Visual Proof of Disengagement
On October 21, India had announced a patrolling agreement covering Depsang and Demchok, with both countries returning to positions held before the 2020 standoff. Satellite images taken after the announcement showed dismantling of semi-permanent Chinese structures and withdrawal of vehicles from Depsang’s ‘Y Junction,’ a significant area that had previously restricted Indian patrols.
The border standoff, which began in May 2020 and saw a deadly clash in the Galwan Valley, led to prolonged military buildup and numerous rounds of negotiations. As of September 2022, Indian and Chinese troops had already disengaged in the Gogra-Hot Springs area. Following the recent agreement, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar confirmed that “we have gone back to the 2020 position” and that “disengagement with China has been completed.”
