Ladakh Standoff: India, China Complete Disengagement Exercise At Galwan, Hot Springs, Gogra Points Along LAC

It is also being said that meeting between senior military commanders is expected in the coming week to further work out modalities of Pangong Tso lake area along the Ladakh LAC.

(File Photo/AFP)

New Delhi: The disengagement exercise between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh after rounds of military level talks between the two country is complete now. As per reports, the ongoing engagement and dialogue between India and China at military and  diplomatic levels has resulted in complete disengagement at Patrolling Point 14, 15  & 17 A. Patrolling Point-14 is the Galwan Valley area, while PPs 15 and 17 are areas of Hot Springs and Gogra region. It is also being said that meeting between senior military commanders is expected in the coming week to further work out modalities of Pangong Tso lake area along the Ladakh LAC. The development came a day after both India and China on Friday agreed on "early and complete" disengagement of troops in eastern Ladakh and may hold more military talks soon as they held a fresh round of diplomatic parleys amid indications the withdrawal of forces by the Chinese army from certain parts in the region has not gained momentum.

Ongoing engagement&dialogue b/w India&China at military&diplomatic levels has resulted in complete disengagement at Patrolling Point 14, 15&17 A. Meeting b/w senior military commanders is expected in the coming week to further work out modalities of Pangong Tso lake area: Sources pic.twitter.com/uu8NhiGzrb

— ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2020

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two sides agreed that another meeting of senior army commanders may be held soon so as to work out further steps to ensure "expeditiously" complete disengagement and de-escalation" and restoration of peace and tranquility in the border areas. The nearly three-hour-long virtual talks were held on July 14 under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs. People familiar with the issues discussed at the talks said India conveyed a firm message to the Chinese side that it has to implement the disengagement process as agreed to during the four rounds of Corps Commander-level talk. In Beijing, the Chinese foreign ministry said the two sides held a candid and in-depth exchange of views on the border situation and fully affirmed the positive progress made in disengaging the front-line border troops of the two countries and easing the situation on the ground. The ministry said it was agreed at the talks to properly handle the remaining issues on the ground and further cool down the border situation. However, the MEA statement did not make any reference to positive progress in disengagement as described by the Chinese foreign ministry. The MEA had said the two sides reviewed the situation in the region as well as the ongoing disengagement process. "They agreed that early and complete disengagement of the troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and de-escalation from India-China border areas in accordance with bilateral agreement and protocols and full restoration of peace and tranquility was essential for smooth overall development of bilateral relations," it said in a statement. Even National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, earlier this month, held a nearly two-hour-long telephonic conversation to bring down tension between the armies of the two countries in eastern Ladakh. The tension in eastern Ladakh escalated manifold after the violent clashes in Galwan Valley on June 15 in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed. The Chinese side also suffered casualties but it is yet to give out the details. According to an American intelligence report, the number of casualties on the Chinese side was 35.