Indian and Chinese troops have completed disengagement at the Depsang Plains and Demchok in eastern Ladakh as of Wednesday, October 30, with verification underway, according to various reports..
An Indian defence official told Reuters that the process has concluded, with soldiers exchanging sweets on Diwali, Thursday. The official added that patrolling would soon resume, pending finalisation of terms by ground commanders.
Patrolling teams, expected to be under 20 soldiers each, will operate at agreed intervals to avoid confrontations, according to army sources cited by PTI.
Verification of the disengagement is being conducted through physical checks and UAVs, as reported by Indian Express.
The disengagement follows an October 21 announcement by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, confirming an agreement on patrolling arrangements in eastern Ladakh. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar noted that troops on both sides would return to pre-2020 clash positions.
China’s ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, commented that China-India relations are now positioned for growth, expressing hope for smooth progress. Defence Minister of India Rajnath Singh called the border agreement a “big development,” crediting it to Indian troops’ “discipline and courage” and reiterating India’s intent to maintain good relations with neighbours.
The 2020 conflict began with Chinese troop intrusions in May, leading to a deadly clash in Galwan Valley in June and continued troop presence at Depsang and Demchok. This recent disengagement, following diplomatic and military talks, opens the way for improved bilateral relations, as seen in recent meetings between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping at the BRICS summit in Russia.
China’s foreign ministry noted that troops are “implementing resolutions in an orderly way,” but has not officially commented on the completed disengagement at Depsang and Demchok.
