Summary:
Chinese and Indian forces Thursday stepped back 2 km from Patrolling Point 17A at the Gogra post, the third friction point — PP 14 in Galwan Valley and PP 15 in Hot Springs sector being the other two — as part of the first round of disengagement on the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh.
This clears the decks for another round of talks, especially on Pangong Tso where even after some thinning out, Chinese troops are still present in large numbers at Finger 4 on the northern banks of the lake — they have come in 8 km, west of Finger 8 which India says marks the LAC.
.
New Delhi: Chinese and Indian forces Thursday stepped back 2 km from Patrolling Point 17A at the Gogra post, the third friction point — PP 14 in Galwan Valley and PP 15 in Hot Springs sector being the other two — as part of the first round of disengagement on the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh.
This clears the decks for another round of talks, especially on Pangong Tso where even after some thinning out, Chinese troops are still present in large numbers at Finger 4 on the northern banks of the lake — they have come in 8 km, west of Finger 8 which India says marks the LAC.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said: “Following the consensus reached at the commander-level talks, the Chinese and India border troops have been taking effective measures to disengage at Galwan Valley and other areas in the western sector.
The overall situation at the China-India boundary is stable and ameliorating.” “The two sides will continue to maintain dialogue and communication through military and diplomatic channels, including holding a new round of commander-level talks and the meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs.
We hope India will work with China towards the same goal to implement consensus reached between the two sides with concrete actions and jointly de-escalate tensions in the border region,” he said.
In New Delhi, sources said the WMCC is likely to meet Friday and the Corps Commanders next week.
On the disengagement at PP 17, sources said: “It has been completely vacated now under the same formula as PP 14 and PP 15.
The withdrawal was completed post noon and verification was done at 2.30 pm.