In a video released by Indian defence sources, Indian and Chinese military tanks were seen moving back. As both sides reached an agreement on disengagement on both the north and south bank of the Pangong Lake, months-long standoff in the area is over.
However, it is still unclear if the disengagement process will extend to other areas in Eastern Ladakh where Chinese forces have crossed the Line of Actual Control.?
Both nations have agreed to pull back troops from the south bank of the contested lake area high in the western Himalayas, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday.
Defence Minister told the parliament:?"Our sustained talks with China have led to agreement on disengagement on the north and south banks of the Pangong Tso lake."
Chinese defence ministry said that frontline troops from both the countries had started to pull back from shores of the lake on Wednesday.?
The bitter standoff began in April last year when India said Chinese troops had intruded into its side of the Line of Actual Control?or the de facto border in the Ladakh area in the western Himalayas.
However, China had denied the claim and said its troops were operating in its own area. The neighbouring country also accused Indian border guards of provocative actions.?
Back in June last year, 20 Indian soldiers were martyred when both sides clashed with each other using iron rods and stones in the Galwan Valley. This was the first combat loss on the border in 45 years. The Chinese troops also suffered an unspecified number of casualties.?
Ever since then, India and China had moved thousands of troops, tanks, artillery guns and combat jets closer to the border.?
Mr Singh also said,?"To ensure disengagement in friction points along the LAC, it was our view that troops of both sides, who are now in close proximity, should vacate the forward deployments made in 2020 and return to the permanent and accepted bases."
He added that both sides had agreed to dismantle defence strategies and structures they had built on the two sides of the lake - two-thirds of which is controlled by China.?
"Once the disengagement has been completed at the lake, military commanders will meet within 48 hours to discuss pull back from other areas," Mr Singh said.
Hopefully troop disengagement will continue and peace will prevail.
Also read:?As India, China Agree On Breakthrough In Pangong Tso, Here Is A Timeline Of Events