New Delhi: Day after the Indian and Chinese armies announced that they have begun to disengage from the Patrolling Point 15 in the Gogra-Hotsprings area, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said that the two sides have agreed to cease forward deployments in this area in a phased, coordinated and verified manner.
In response to media queries, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "As per the agreement, the disengagement process in this area started on 08 September 2022 at 0830 hrs and will be completed by 12 September 2022".
"The two sides have agreed to cease forward deployments in this area in a phased, coordinated, and verified manner, resulting in the return of the troops of both sides to their respective areas", added Bagchi.
The development can be seen as a significant end to the standoff in eastern Ladakh between the two sides that has lasted for over two years. "The sixteenth round of talks between the Corps Commanders of India and China was held at Chushul Moldo Meeting Point on 17 July 2022.
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Since then, the two sides had maintained regular contact to build on the progress achieved during the talks to resolve the relevant issues along the LAC in the Western Sector of India-China border areas", the MEA spokesperson said, adding that as result, both sides have now agreed on disengagement in the area of Gogra-Hot Springs (PP-15).
It has been agreed that all temporary structures and other allied infrastructure created in the area by both sides will be dismantled and mutually verified. The landforms in the area will be restored to pre-stand-off period by both sides, the Ministry said.
The agreement ensures that the LAC in this area will be strictly observed and respected by both sides, and that there will be no unilateral change in the status quo. "With the resolution of the stand-off at PP-15, both sides mutually agreed to take the talks forward and resolve the remaining issues along LAC and restore peace and tranquillity in India-China border areas", an MEA spokesperson told media.
India has been consistently maintaining that peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) were important for the overall development of bilateral ties. The two militaries held 16 rounds of Corps Commander-level talks to resolve the standoff.
