NEW DELHI (DELHI) – India and China have conceded to withdraw troops from a disputed lake area high in the western Himalayas, the Indian defence minister said on Thursday. This has been a breakthrough after a months-long standoff on the disputed border.
Rajnath Singh told parliament they have come to an agreement after several rounds of talks between military commanders and diplomats from the nuclear-armed neighbours.
He said, “Our sustained talks with China have led to agreement on disengagement on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake.”
China’s defence ministry said frontline troops from the two countries had started to be withdrawn from the shores of the lake on Wednesday.
China said its troops were functioning in its own area and levelled accusations against Indian border guards of provocative actions.
Singh said the Indian government had told Beijing that peace had been seriously disrupted by the actions of Chinese troops and bilateral ties was hit.
“To ensure disengagement in friction points along the LAC, it was our view that troops of both sides, who are now in close proximity, should vacate the forward deployments made in 2020 and return to the permanent and accepted bases,” he said.
Once the disengagement has been completed at the high altitude Pangong lake, military commanders will join for a meeting within 48 hours to discuss pull back from other areas, Singh said.