India, China to complete disengagement process by next week, 40% temporary structures removed along LAC

The troops of India and China have begun the disengagement process in eastern Ladkah from today. Latest media reports say that troops of both countries have started disengaging from two friction points - Depsang and Demchok - in eastern Ladakh. The development comes days after both nations agreed to resume the border patrolling along the Line of Actual Control. According to multiple media reports, the disengagement process will end by next week.

This is the first time since 2020 military standoff that Indian and Chinese troops are pulling back. A Times of India report says that the process of disengagement is underway in a 'controlled manner'. To start with, the temporary structures that were built by both countries in these two regions are being dismantled. 'Tactical commanders' are on ground to oversee the process, the TOI report added. A News18 report says that around 40 percent of the temporary structures have been removed on either side of the border along the Line of Actual Control.

The report further adds that a 'verification' of the removal of structures will be done by both sides by land and an aerial survey as well. By the end of Friday, 60 percent structures are likely to be removed, the report added.

India's Ministry of External Affairs on October 21 had confirmed about the agreement between New Delhi and Beijing regarding patrolling arrangements along the LAC.

On Thursday, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had said that India and China have reached a 'broad consensus' to 'restore the ground situation'. The LAC truce, Singh said, was based on values of mutual security.

India China Ties: PM Modi and President Xi Jinping’s first bilateral in 5 years

Just after the MEA’s announcement, PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first bilateral meeting in Kazan, Russia on the sidelines of the BRICS 2024 Summit.

Met President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Kazan BRICS Summit.India-China relations are important for the people of our countries, and for regional and global peace and stability.Mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual sensitivity will guide bilateral relations. pic.twitter.com/tXfudhAU4b
Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 23, 2024

This was the first time in five years that both leaders held bilateral meeting after 2019. After the meeting, PM Modi posted photos of the meeting. “India-China relations are important for the people of our countries, and for regional and global peace and stability. Mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual sensitivity will guide bilateral relations,” he wrote in the post on X.