- China is reportedly moving back from its position along the Line of Actual Control in the Eastern Ladakh’s Galwan Valley.
- The
Indian Army is keeping a cautious eye out as many Chinese heavy armoured vehicles remain in some of the deeper areas of the Galwan Valley. - This the first sign of de-escalation between India and China since the violent clash of June 15.
These are the first steps of disengagement in-line with what was agreed upon during military-level talks on June 30. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have shifted their tents, vehicles and troops back between one to two kilometres from the site of the June 15 clash, the wire agency ANI reported citing Indian Army sources.
Officials told the Hindu that temporary structures are in the process of being removed by both sides, and that a physical verification has been conducted. The June 15 clash between India and China left 20 Indian soldiers dead and an undisclosed number of Chinese casualties.
15 days later, during the June 30 meeting, four friction points were identified by the Indian side — Galwan Valley, the Gogra Post, Hot Springs and Pangong Tso.
The discussions were led by Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps, and Major General Liu Lin, commander of the South Xinjiang military region. The two first met on June 6 and then again on June 22 in Moldo on the Chinese side of LAC after border tensions erupted between both the countries in May. This time the meeting was hosted on the Indian side of the border in Chushul.
At the time, India was set to remain in place for the long haul leading up to the winter months that would reportedly make the Chinese positions tenable.
The news of troops moving back comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited the troops in Ladakh. “The enemies of India have seen your fire and fury,” he told the troops thanking them for their service.
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