Indian and Chinese troops have started to disengage from the Gogra-Hot Springs PP-15 friction point in eastern Ladakh after reaching a consensus in the 16th round of military talks. The development marks an end to an over two-year stand-off in the Patrolling Point 15.
The 16th round of India-China Corps Commander-level meeting was held at Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side on July 17.
"Today, as per consensus reached in 16th round of India-China Corps Commander-Level Meeting, Indian and Chinese troops in area of Gogra-Hotsprings (PP-15) have begun to disengage in a coordinated and planned way, which is conducive to peace and tranquility in the border areas," the Defence Ministry said.
The announcement of the disengagement process comes around a week ahead of the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Uzbekistan that is set to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The Indian delegation at the talks was led by Lt-General Anindya Sengupta, the commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps, while the Chinese team was headed by South Xinjiang Military District Chief Major General Yang Lin.
Following the 16th round of talks, a joint statement by India and China said both the countries agreed to maintain security and stability on the ground in the Western Sector.
At the talks, India strongly pressed for early disengagement of troops from all the remaining friction points in the region and demanded the restoration of the status quo ante as of April 2020 -- before the start of the military standoff. The Indian delegation also sought resolution of pending issues in Depsang Bulge and Demchok.
The military talks was held 10 days after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Bali.
The eastern Ladakh border standoff between India and China erupted on May 5, 2020, following a clash in the Pangong lake areas. On June 15, 2020, a violent face-off between the armies of India and China led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers in Galwan. Chinese People's Liberation Army lost 42 soldiers in the clash, an Australian newspaper has claimed.
India and China have held a series of diplomatic and military talks to resolve the eastern Ladakh row. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi have held several rounds of talks in Moscow, Dushanbe and New Delhi to defuse tensions.
After several rounds of diplomatic and military talks, the two sides had completed disengagement process last year on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area.
India and China reportedly have around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the sensitive sector.
(With inputs from PTI)