India, China begin disengagement at Pangong Tso lake

Slight disengagement between Indian and Chinese troops aimed at clearing the ‘Finger 4’ area on the northern bank of Pangong Lake started on Wednesday according to the consensus reached between the two sides during the ninth round of military commander-level talks.

The India-China border standoff began in May last year, when the Chinese came in 8 km between Finger 8 and Finger 4 on the North bank of Pangong Tso.

Key Highlights

• As per the plan, China will move back to Finger 8 and Indian troops will pull back to the Dhan Singh Thapa post between Finger 2 and 3. No patrolling will take place by both sides till Finger 4. This will be done in a phased manner,” sources said. While marginal thinning of troops has taken place, removal of tanks and weapons is also on the agenda.
• Mountain spurs jutting out into the lake at more than 14,000 feet are referred to as “fingers”. Turning the ‘Finger’ area into a no-patrolling zone is part of the three-step disengagement roadmap under consideration and includes thinning of troops on the northern bank before eventually retreating from the present face-off sites, government sources said. India will also vacate the heights occupied on the south of the lake in August end, as per the disengagement proposal.
• In the ninth round of military talks last month, which stretched for over 16 hours, India and China agreed to push for an early disengagement of troops and resolved to continue “effective efforts” to stabilise and control the situation in eastern Ladakh.
• India also asserted that China needs to withdraw troops from several friction points, including Depsang plains, heights around Gogra and other locations that have not allowed tensions to ease.
• In the Depsang area, the Chinese have strengthened their positions over the last 5-6 years and during the current standoff, there was a further build-up, including tanks being deployed.
• The Indian Army claims Finger 8 to be the Line of Actual Control (LAC) while the Chinese, in a clear alteration of status quo, have been camping at Finger 4 and have set up fortifications between Finger 5 and 8.

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