Withdrawal of troops from LAC to begin today

The withdrawal of troops from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is set begin on Friday after India and China reportedly resolved the stand-off at the Ladakh border.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj raised the issue of Chinese incursions into Indian Territory during her meeting with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in New York on Wednesday, which finally led to this bearkthrough.

The troops of both the countries are supposed to return to their positions by September 30th.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier called for immediate resolution of the boundary issue between India and China, saying that clarity on the Line of Actual Control is essential for improving relations between the two countries.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, during his recent visit to India, had also said that the China-India boundary issue is a problem that has troubled the two nations for long, and added that Beijing is determined to settle the border dispute with New Delhi.

Chinese side had stopped Indian troops from patrolling the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the latter has lost access to the line in some areas in eastern Ladakh.

According to reports, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China has gradually occupied nearly 640 square kilometres of area on the LAC in Ladakh in the past few months.