New Delhi: The disengagement of armies of India and China in Gogra-Hot Springs area of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh sector, which began yesterday, will be completed by September 12, the government said here today.
With the resolution of stand-off in this area, both sides mutually agreed to take the talks forward and resolve the remaining issues along the LAC and restore peace and tranquility in India-China border areas, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said.
He was apparently referring to the Depsang area, where the eyeball-to-eyeball situation continues between the two armies ever since China launched aggression in May 2020 in an attempt to alter the LAC unilaterally.
“The sixteenth round of talks between the Corps Commanders of India and China was held at Chushul Moldo Meeting Point on 17 July 2022,” Bagchi said.
“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,” he added.
As a result, both sides have now agreed on disengagement in the area of Gogra-Hot Springs (PP-15), the MEA spokesman said, adding “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.”
He said 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.”
He went on to add that, “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 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 status quo, he said.
