Indian and Chinese troops begin disengagement in Galwan Valley on LAC

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Both Indian and Chinese troops have retreated two kilometres each along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley, according to reports. The Chinese Army is removing tents and moving back from certain areas of the Galwan Valley, in a first sign of disengagement of troops from the area, government sources said on Monday.

According to ANI sources, the disengagement process will begin in other friction points including PP-14, PP-15, Hot Springs and Finger area.

Top official sources told IANS that both sides retreated two kilometres simultaneously on Sunday, following several rounds of talks which had begun after the clash on June 15. The disengagement between Indian and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) happened as per the agreed terms in the Corps Commander's meeting.

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang Yi over video call yesterday. 

NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi had a telephone conversation yesterday. They had a frank and in-depth exchange of views on the recent developments in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas, Ministry of External Affais (MEA) said. 

NSA Doval and Chinese FM agreed that both sides should take guidance from consensus of the leaders that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in India-China border areas was essential for development of bilateral relations and that two sides shouldn't allow differences to become disputes, MEA added. 

Therefore, they agreed that it was necessary to ensure at the earliest complete disengagement of troops along LAC and de-escalation from India-China border areas for full restoration of peace and tranquillity, ministry further said.

In this regard, they further agreed that both sides should complete the ongoing disengagement process along the LAC expeditiously. The two sides should also ensure a phased and stepwise de-escalation in the India-China border areas. 

They re-affirmed that both sides should strictly respect and observe the Line of Actual Control and should not take any unilateral action to alter the status quo and work together to avoid any incident in the future that could disturb peace and tranquillity in border areas, MEA said.

Statement released by Ministry of External Affairs

"Taking effective measures to ease tensions. There is progress made on the frontline. Effective measures taken to disengage," the Chinese authorities said according to TV reports. 

With the retreat from both sides, a four kilometre no-man zone has been created. "Four kilometres in the highly mountainous terrain like Galwan valley, deprives both sides to see each other's installations and reinforcements," sources said.

The two sides have also agreed, sources said, not to do any aerial surveillance of the retreated area, to rebuild trust which was badly damaged due to the June 15 bloodbath.

"As a result, neither side would really know what the other side is doing," a military source added.

Indian Navy's P-8I aircraft generally used for maritime patrol and reconnaissance, had been pressed into service in Ladakh for high altitude surveillance. The P-8Is carried out similar surveillance operations during the 2017 India-China standoff in Doklam in Sikkim.

However, sources said PLA has removed tents and structures at PP14 and rearward movement of vehicles of the PLA were seen at general area Galwan, Hotsprings and Gogra.

The retreat on Sunday, sources said, is limited to these areas and not other contentious points along the LAC. Around 30,000 troops of Indian Army are in an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation with Chinese troops along the LAC in Ladakh, following the additional deployment of three brigades since the violent face-off last month.

The Indian and Chinese armies are locked in a bitter standoff in multiple locations in eastern Ladakh for the last seven weeks.

The tension escalated manifold after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a violent clash in Galwan Valley on June 15. The Chinese side also suffered casualties but it is yet to give out the details.

India has been insisting on restoration of status quo ante in all areas of eastern Ladakh to restore peace and tranquillity in the region.

India and China have held several rounds of diplomatic and military talks in the last few weeks to ease tension in the region. However, there was no visible sign of end to the standoff though the two sides agreed to initiate disengagement of the forces from the region.