Chinese pull back from Pangong was a necessity for them: Retd Brigadier

With the disengagement process commencing in Ladakh, Brigadier BK Khanna (retd) ETV Bharat's senior correspondent Gautam Debroy that the pulling back of its soldiers was a "necessity" for the Chinese side as they realised they were on the back foot.

New Delhi: Against the backdrop of the Chinese Army withdrawing its soldiers from both the north and south bank of the Pangong lake, Brigadier BK Khanna (retd) who was earlier posted along the India-China border told ETV Bharat on Thursday that the decision to pull back Chinese forces was "a necessity for them."

"Following the clash in Galwan Valley, the Chinese authorities must have assessed and realised that they were on the back foot. The Chinese authorities have seen what happened in Galwan Valley... though we lost 20 of our jawans, the Chinese reportedly lost more than 150-200 army personnel," said Brigadier Khanna.

He said that China might try to give an impression at the international platform that they are a peace-keeping nation.

"Withdrawing of their forces might give them credit as a peace-keeping nation... normally they don't take such decisions," said Brigadier Khanna who was posted in Ladakh in 1996-97.

He said that when the ninth round of talks took place between core commanders of both the countries, it was decided to pull back forces.

"Earlier also it was decided that both the sides will pull back, but the Chinese did not implement it," added the retired army official.

Read:Watch: First visuals of Indo-China disengagement process

Brigadier Khanna said that India capturing some strategic locations in Pangong might have also forced the Chinese to pull back.

"We got some strategic heights at Pangong, which give us an advantage. From those high altitude locations, we can see the movement of the Chinese forces. We need to monitor the situation," said Brigadier Khanna and added that "India is in a better position now."

From his experience, the retired army officer said that having possession on some strategic locations has definitely put India on the front foot.

"I have seen the area... it was strategically important," Brigadier Khanna added.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told in the Parliament on Thursday morning that both India and China have agreed to pull back troops from the south bank of the bitterly contested lake area high in the western Himalayas.

"Our sustained talks with China have led to agreement on disengagement on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake," Singh said.

Read:India has 'given in' to China's 1959 claim on LAC: Panag