India-China Border Disengagement at Depsang, Demchok Almost Over: Defence Sources

New Delhi: As per sources in the defence, the disengagement process in the Depsang and Demchok areas of the Eastern Ladakh sectors was almost over. 

The sources further said the armies of India and China were verifying the vacation of positions and removal of infrastructure by each other there.

The Indian Army aimed to finalise the disengagement in both sectors by October 29, following which coordinated patrolling would commence.

India has been working towards resolving this long-standing dispute to restore the pre-April 2020 situation, prior to the onset of Chinese aggression in the area.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said the disengagement of troops at Depsang and Demchok in Ladakh was the first step, and it was expected that India will return to the 2020 patrolling status.

The next step is de-escalation, which will not happen until India is sure that the same is happening on the other side as well, the EAM said, obviously referring to China.

Earlier this week, India announced it had reached an agreement with China on patrolling along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, a breakthrough in ending the over four-year-long military standoff.

Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Jaishankar said consensus has been achieved on patrolling and disengagement in Depsang and Demchok.

"It is obvious it will take time to implement the same. This is the issue of disengagement and patrolling which meant our armies had come very close to each other and now they have gone back to their bases. We hope the 2020 status is restored," he said.

The completion of disengagement is the first step. The next step is de-escalation which will not happen until India is sure that the same is happening on the other side as well, the External Affairs Minister said.

"After de-escalation, how to manage the borders will be discussed," he added. (with PTI inputs)