NEW DELHI: In what marks a breakthrough after several rounds of military and diplomatic talks, India and China have kicked off step-wise disengagement from the two-month-long confrontation in Galwan Valley and Gogra-Hot Springs areas of eastern Ladakh, with People’s Liberation Army soldiers also moving back slightly from the seemingly intractable face-off site at Pangong Tso.
Chinese soldiers “have removed some tents and seem to be pulling back” towards ‘Finger-5’ (fingers are mountainous spurs) from ‘Finger-4’ on the north bank of Pangong lake, in accordance with Phase-I of the de-escalation plan thrashed out between the rival corps commanders on June 30, top government sources told TOI on Monday. This is significant as the confrontation here is seen to be particularly sticky to resolve.
The developments on Monday came after a two-hour discussion between national security advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese state councillor and foreign minister Wang Yi on Sunday. The sometimes tense conversation ended with the two sides agreeing to disengage. Importantly, the Chinese troops have moved back from their current positions which India
