Disengagement process in Depsang Plains, Demchok areas of Eastern Ladakh sector complete
The disengagement process between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh was successfully completed on Tuesday. Following the withdrawal of troops, both nations have commenced the verification of positions and the dismantling of military infrastructure, according to defense sources.
Sources indicate that the removal of temporary structures in key areas such as the Depsang Plains and Demchok is nearing completion, with initial verification efforts already underway on both sides. This verification process is being conducted both physically and with the assistance of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
As part of the disengagement agreement, troops from both countries have been repositioned to rear locations, facilitating coordinated patrolling of areas that have been largely inaccessible since April 2020. Patrols will now be conducted by small groups of around 10 to 15 soldiers.
The ongoing military standoff began over four years ago after incursions by Chinese troops along the LAC. Just last week, following India’s announcement of an agreement on patrolling in the Depsang Plains and Demchok, China confirmed the developments, stating that “the Chinese and Indian frontier troops are engaged in relevant work, which is going smoothly at the moment.”
Army sources have indicated that coordinated patrolling is expected to begin within the next two days, with prior notifications exchanged to prevent any potential face-offs between troops.
In the Depsang Plains, Indian soldiers will now have the opportunity to patrol beyond previously restricted areas known as the ‘bottleneck,’ which had hindered access to key patrolling points. Similarly, in Demchok, Indian troops are anticipated to access patrol points at Track Junction and Charding Nullah.
However, a significant number of Indian troops deployed to Ladakh since the 2020 standoff will remain stationed in the region until a broader consensus on border patrolling mechanisms is established with China. “There are no plans to withdraw troops from Ladakh in the near future until mutual trust and verification are firmly established,” defense sources noted.
Additionally, similar disengagement arrangements are being considered in Arunachal Pradesh, where tensions previously escalated in the Yangtse, Asaphila, and Subansiri Valleys.
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Now we want to permanently settle the border issues – give & take, but fix the border once for all.