On Friday, the Indian Army initiated patrolling in Demchok, days following the recent disengagement of Indian and Chinese troops at the two friction points in eastern Ladakh, according to the media reports. Patrolling in the Depsang area is also expected to resume shortly.
On Thursday, troops from both the countries exchanged sweets at many border points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), marking a positive gesture amid improving Sino-Indian relations. According to the media reports, patrolling has officially commenced at Demchok, and the status of these areas is anticipated to return to pre-April 2020 levels.
For the unversed, Indian and Chinese forces successfully completed disengagement at the Demchok and Depsang Plains earlier in the week, paving the way for patrolling to start soon at these locations. Following the completion of the disengagement process, India and China have dismantled military installations and other infrastructure along their shared border.
Both the countries have committed to restoring the area to its original state prior to the tensions. This process included the withdrawal of forces to their previous positions before the military confrontations occurred. These confrontations in the Pangong Lake region resulted in the deaths of numerous soldiers in May 2020, with 20 Indian soldiers reported killed during clashes with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley amid ongoing border disputes.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh commented on the recent developments, emphasizing the efforts made at both diplomatic and military levels to achieve a broad consensus on the basis of equal and mutual security. This approach, which includes ongoing diplomatic talks and military discussions, has fostered incremental steps toward restoring trust along the LAC.
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