India-China Border Disengagement Complete, Patrolling To Begin Soon; Exchange Of Sweets Tomorrow

India-China Disengagement: The disengagement process between Indian and Chinese troops at the Depsang and Demchok areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh has been completed, sources in the Indian Army told news agency ANI on Wednesday.

"Coordinated patrolling to start soon by both sides. Ground commanders will continue to hold talks. Exchange of sweets on Diwali to happen tomorrow," they stated. The sources further said the troop pull-back was being verified.

Disengagement between India and China in Depsang and Demchok completed. Coordinated patrolling to start soon by both sides. Ground commanders will continue to hold talks. Exchange of sweets on Diwali to happen tomorrow: Indian Army sources pic.twitter.com/RpzGUpKjyG

— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2024

The coordinated patrolling modalities at Demchok and Depsang, which were the last remaining friction points in a long-standing border conflict, will be decided between the ground commanders of both sides, ANI's sources said. "Ground commanders are officers of the rank of Brigadiers and below," they added.

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The conclusion of the disengagement process came days after India and China announced they had reached an agreement to end the military standoff that had been causing strains in bilateral ties since mid-2020. New Delhi had announced the border agreement on October 21. The development was confirmed by Beijing the following day.

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The agreement paved the way for the first bilateral engagement between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in five years. The leaders met on the sidelines of the now-concluded 16th BRICS Summit in Russia on October 23.

(With inputs from agencies)