India, China complete troop disengagement in eastern Ladakh, both sides to exchange sweets on Diwali: Sources

Ground commanders will continue to hold talks

The disengagement process of Indian and Chinese troops at Depsang and Demchok regions in Eastern Ladakh has been completed and coordinated patrolling will begin soon, Indian Army sources told ANI.

The sources further said that exchange of sweets will take place between the troops on the occasion of Diwali tomorrow.

India and China initiated troop withdrawal at Demchok and Depsang Plains in eastern Ladakh on October 2, following a crucial agreement between the two nations. The ties between the two Asian powers deteriorated sharply after their most serious military confrontation in decades - a violent clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020.

Verification of the disengagement process is in progress by both sides. Coordinated Patrolling modalities to be decided between ground commanders. Ground commanders are officers of the rank of Brigadiers and below: Army sources
ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2024

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on October 21 had said in New Delhi that the agreement was finalised following negotiations over the past several weeks and that it would lead to a resolution of the issues that arose in 2020.

On October 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping endorsed the agreement on patrolling and disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan in Russia.

"Welcoming the recent agreement for complete disengagement and resolution of issues that arose in 2020 in the India-China border areas, Prime Minister Modi underscored the importance of properly handling differences and disputes and not allowing them to disturb peace and tranquility," an official statement post their meeting read.

The two leaders affirmed that stable, predictable, and amicable bilateral relations between India and China -- as two neighbors and the two largest nations on earth -- will have a positive impact on regional and global peace and prosperity. It will also contribute to a multi-polar Asia and a multi-polar world.