India, China Complete Phase-I Of Disengagement; PLA Army Moves Back At Three Patrolling Areas In Ladakh

The vacant spaces will now be treated as temporary non-patrolling zones by India and China.

Indian army trucks depart towards Ladakh amid stand off between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh. (PTI Image)

New Delhi: As per the latest development over the military talks between India and China, both the countries on Thursday completed the first phase of disengagement process as the Chinese army moved back by 2-kilometres at three patrolling points along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh. News Agency ANI on Thursday quoted top Indian Armr sources who said Chinese Army thinning out in Finger area.

First phase of disengagement between armies of India and China at friction points has been completed. As part of it, the Chinese troops have moved back from Finger 4 to Finger 5 in the Finger area: Top Government sources#Ladakh pic.twitter.com/4BStU6HnBV

— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2020

Briefing the development, the source said that the Chinese troops moved back under the mutual disengagement agreement by two kilometres at three friction points or the Hot Springs i.e. Patrolling Point 14, Patrolling Point 15 and Patrolling Point 17 an 17 A. Along with the Chinese military, the Indian Army has withdrawn its troops by almost the equal distance from the areas which were its patrolling points till May first week when the Chinese had started building up its base long the Line of Actual Control.

Chinese Army has already moved back by around kilometres in the other friction points including Galwan valley, Hot Springs & Patrolling Point-15. Indian side has also moved back as per the mutual disengagement agreed upon during the Corps Commander-level talks: Top Govt sources

— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2020

The report further mentioned that today's disengagement agreement has been mutually made by both India and China as both the countries recognize the importance of de-escalation for full restoration of peace and tranquility. The neighbours want to avoid any further scuffle like the one on June 15 where India had lost at least 12 brave soldiers during the clash. The sources further said that the vacant spaces will now be treated as temporary non-patrolling zones by India and China, and that their troops won't come there. Both the countries are yet to have more peace talks where the focus will be on moving back to permanent locations as per discussions between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi. Sources told ANI that Commander-level talks will be held between the armies of India and China after the working mechanism for consultation and coordination happens tomorrow.