Indian Army releases visuals of disengagement process with China
What's the story
The Indian Army on Tuesday released videos and photographs showing thinning down of troops and dismantling of bunkers, camps, and other facilities by the Chinese military in the areas around the Pangong Lake in Eastern Ladakh in line with the agreed disengagement process between the two sides.
The visuals also showed the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) using a bulldozer to flatten some structures.
Information
A fast-paced disengagement process can be seen
The photos and videos largely depicted a fast-paced disengagement process in both the North and South banks of the Pangong Lake that included the withdrawal of troops, removal of machinery, and dismantling of temporary structures like bunkers, posts, and tents.
Twitter Post
Here are few clips of the disengagement process
#Diengagement at #LAC #PLA Reeling back... pic.twitter.com/J0cC5xedo2
— PRO Kohima, Ministry Of Defence (@prodefkohima) February 16, 2021
Twitter Post
Photos of the process
#Disengagement at #LAC #PLA reeling back. pic.twitter.com/2sXibcxDGZ
— PRO Kohima, Ministry Of Defence (@prodefkohima) February 16, 2021
Disengagement exercise
Process to be concluded by the end of week
The disengagement process, which was finalized following nine rounds of high-level military talks, is gathering pace. The entire exercise is expected to be concluded by the end of the week. In the last few days, both sides removed several bunkers, temporary posts while gradually thinning down their troops.
Field commanders of both sides are meeting almost every day to take forward the disengagement process.
Details
Agreement to disengage happened after nine months of border standoff
Army Chief General MM Naravane is keeping a close eye on the disengagement process. After nine months of border standoff in eastern Ladakh, the disengagement mandates both sides to cease forward deployment of troops in a phased, coordinated, and verifiable manner.
The disengagement began last Wednesday. On Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a detailed statement in the Parliament on the disengagement pact.
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What are the conditions of the agreement?
According to the agreement, China will pull back its troops to the east of Finger 8 areas in the northern bank while the Indian personnel will be based at their permanent base at Dhan Singh Thapa Post near Finger 3 in the region.
What happened?
China had built structures between Finger 4 and 8
Last year, the Chinese military built bunkers and other structures in the areas between Finger 4 and 8 and blocked all Indian patrols beyond Finger 4, triggering a strong reaction from the Indian Army.
In the nine rounds of military talks, India specifically insisted on the withdrawal of the Chinese troops from Finger 4 to Finger 8 on the North bank of Pangong Lake.
Further actions
Both sides to meet after completion of exercise
Following the completion of the disengagement process, the two sides will hold talks on the de-escalation process.
The Defence Minister had told Parliament that it was agreed to convene the next meeting of senior commanders of both sides within 48 hours of completion of the disengagement in the Pangong lake area so as to resolve all other remaining issues.
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Other issues that will be focused on after the process
On Friday, the Defence Ministry said other outstanding problems including in Depsang, Hot Springs, and Gogra will be taken up at the upcoming talks that are to take place between military commanders of the two countries after the disengagement process is concluded.