Politics

India-China Disengagement at LAC Begins: Temporary Tents Removed in Ladakh Border Standoff

A recent deal between China and India aims to end the nearly four-year military standoff in eastern Ladakh by formally initiating disengagement at the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The removal of temporary tents at Depsang and Demchok, the final places of contention in the ongoing border dispute, has begun in both countries, according to defense sources. China and India were able to create buffer zones by disengaging at four different areas two years ago. Local commanders are presently overseeing the disengagement process in accordance with general guidelines decided upon at senior-level discussions, according to defense sources.

Sources explained that although temporary structures are being removed, this does not mean that troops will be completely leaving the area. Instead, the region will be allowed to begin patrolling after these constructions are removed. According to reports, Depsang and Demchok have already cleared around 40% of the temporary structures, with 60% expected to be done by Friday night. Following the removal of all structures, a joint land and aerial verification will be conducted. During the BRICS Summit in Russia on October 23, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed this agreement. In order to mend strained relations after the 2020 military conflict at Galwan, they also directed the resuscitation of several bilateral discussion structures.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh stressed that India and China had come to a wide agreement on customary patrolling and grazing operations in disputed areas during Thursday’s Chanakya Defence Dialogue 2024 in New Delhi. He pointed out that this “significant development” is the result of ongoing diplomatic and military discussions. “Broad agreement has been reached to restore the ground situation based on the principles of equal and mutual security,” Singh said about the discussions. This is the benefit of having an ongoing conversation since eventually answers will surface.

Road Ahead

Disengagement, De-escalation, and De-induction, or India’s 3-D method, offers a framework for resolving conflicts. Military authorities, however, predict that the present troop concentrations in eastern Ladakh would probably continue into the winter. Although patrols are usually less frequent in the winter, both countries have always kept their presence to make territorial claims. As one individual with knowledge of the matter put it, “There are several problems to address. Although we have agreed to return to 2020 positions in Depsang and Demchok, there is still debate on which places have a buffer zone policy in place.

Also Read: How PM Modi Secured China’s Agreement on LAC Patrolling Amid Tensions

Tensions have been high in Depsang since Chinese troops erected tents at patrol point 10 and the Y intersection in 2020, blocking Indian access to vital patrol stations. On the other hand, Demchok poses particular difficulties, as Indian patrols along a nearby stream are impeded by a greater number of Chinese tents. The new agreement, which places an emphasis on better coordination, calls for both countries to return to their prior positions and resume their customary patrolling routines. Normalizing relations along the disputed border is a complicated process, but this accord is a good starting step.