India, China wrap up disengagement in eastern Ladakh; troops to exhange sweets on Diwali

New Delhi: The disengagement between India and China in the Depsang and Demchok regions has been completed, with coordinated patrolling set to begin soon by both sides. According to Indian Army sources, ground commanders will continue to hold discussions, and an exchange of sweets is planned for Diwali tomorrow.

Verification of the disengagement process is currently underway by both parties. The modalities for coordinated patrolling will be determined by ground commanders, who are officers of the rank of Brigadiers and below.

Following the key agreement firmed up between India and China, the two countries began troop disengagement at the two friction points at Demchok and Depsang Plains in eastern Ladakh on October 2.

The ties between the two Asian giants had nosedived following a fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.

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 LAC in eastern Ladakh during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan in Russia.