Beijing: The Chinese military on Thursday said troops of India and China are “making progress” in implementing the recent agreement to disengage from the friction points in the eastern Ladakh border but declined to comment on reports that the disengagement has been completed.
Commenting for the first time after the October 21 agreement to disengage the troops, Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence, told a media briefing that “China and India have reached resolutions on the issues concerning the border areas through diplomatic and military channels”.
“The frontline troops of the two militaries are making progress in implementing resolutions in an orderly manner,” he said, reiterating the foreign ministry’s comments on Wednesday.
He, however, declined to comment on the reports that the Indian and Chinese troops have completed disengagement at two friction points at Demchok and Depsang Plains in eastern Ladakh and patrolling is set to commence soon at these points.
“On this question, I have no more information to offer,” Col Zhang said.
On the bilateral agreement to disengage the troops, Col Zhang said President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the margins of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia last week.
“Both sides have agreed that China and India should view and handle the bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective and make sure that the differences on specific issues will not affect the overall relationship,” he said.
“We hope the Indian side will work together with China to take important common understandings between the two leaders as guidance and continuously implement the above-mentioned resolutions and jointly safeguard peace and tranquility along the border areas,” he said.
Indian Army sources said on Wednesday that the troops of both countries have completed disengagement at two friction points at Demchok and Depsang Plains in eastern Ladakh and patrolling is set to commence soon at these points.
The verification process post-disengagement is in progress and patrolling modalities are to be decided between ground commanders, an Indian Army source said.
“Talks will continue at the local commander level,” the Army source added.
The process follows the agreement between the two countries on patrolling and disengagement of troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, a major breakthrough to end the over four-year standoff, bringing a fresh thaw in their frosty ties.
The move marks a significant development in the pursuit of reduced tension along the LAC in eastern Ladakh since the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.
The ties between the two Asian giants had nosedived following the clash.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on October 21 said in Delhi that the agreement was finalised following negotiations over the past several weeks and that it would lead to a resolution of the issues that arose in 2020.
Subsequently, the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed the agreement on October 22, saying that “the two sides have reached resolutions on relevant matters, which China speaks highly of. Going forward, China will work with India to implement these resolutions.”
Indian, Chinese troops exchange sweets at several border points on Diwali
Troops of India and China exchanged sweets at several border points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), including at locations in eastern Ladakh, on the occasion of Diwali on Thursday.
The traditional practice was observed a day after both countries completed troop disengagement at the two friction points at Demchok and Depsang Plains in eastern Ladakh, bringing a fresh thaw in the Sino-Indian ties.
“Sweets exchange between members of the troops of India and China took place at several border points along the LAC on the occasion of Diwali,” an Army source told PTI earlier in the day.
The exchange took place at all the five Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) points along the LAC — Bum La and Wacha/Kibithu in Arunachal Pradesh, Chushul-Moldo and Daulat Beg Oldi in Ladakh and Nathu La in Sikkim — among several other locations, sources added.
Sweets were also exchanged at Kongk La, KK Pass and Hot Springs (in eastern Ladakh), they said.
As a traditional practice, Indian and Chinese troops have in the past exchanged sweets and greetings at several border posts along the LAC, including in eastern Ladakh, to mark festivals and other important occasions.
On Wednesday, an Army source said that troops of both sides had completed the disengagement at the two friction points and patrolling would commence soon at these points.
The verification process after the disengagement was in progress and patrolling modalities were to be decided between ground commanders, the source said then.
“Talks will continue at the local commander level,” the Army source added.
On Thursday, an Army source said patrolling was yet to resume.
Sources earlier had said that the areas and patrolling status were expected to be moved back to pre-April 2020 level.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on October 21 said in Delhi that an agreement was finalised between India and China following negotiations over the past several weeks and that it would lead to a resolution of the issues that arose in 2020.
The agreement was firmed up on patrolling and disengagement of troops along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, a breakthrough to end the over four-year standoff.
The move marks a significant development in the pursuit of reduced tension along the LAC in eastern Ladakh since the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.
The ties between the two Asian giants had nosedived following the clash.
