NEW DELHI: As part of the disengagement proposals being discussed between India and China, the two sides would dismantle any new structures that have emerged during the ongoing standoff from April-May this year in the Pangong Lake area.
There would also be no patrol activity on either side between Finger 4 and Finger 8, as China has given up its old post to maintain an observation post in the area, sources told ANI here.
The issue of the Depsang Plains would be discussed between the two countries separately where the Chinese have blocked some Indian Army patrol points and a couple of other Indian Army patrol points where the Chinese have yet to completely disconnect during the first phase of withdrawal. it will also be resolved soon.
The proposals are being discussed as the armies of the two countries have reached an agreement to discuss the gradual withdrawal of parts of the eastern Ladakh sector under which they would return to their respective positions before the period from April to May earlier this year.
The withdrawal plan was discussed between the two sides during the 8th Corps commander-level talks that took place on 6 November in Chushul.
According to the withdrawal plan, which will be carried out in three steps in a week since the talks in the Pangong Lake area, armored vehicles, including tanks and armored personnel carriers, were to withdraw from their deployment. front-line at a significant distance from the Line of Current Control (LAC) on both sides.
According to discussions, the withdrawal of the tanks and armored personnel carriers would be carried out in one day. The talks took place on November 6 in which the Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Naveen Shrivastava, and Brigadier Ghai of the General Directorate of Military Operations participated.
In the second step to be carried out near the north shore of Pangong Lake, both sides were supposed to withdraw about 30 percent of the troops every day for three days. The Indian side agreed to approach its administrative post of Dhan Singh Thapa, while the Chinese had agreed to return to their position east of Finger 8.
In the third and final step, the two parties were to withdraw from their respective front line positions along the southern shore of the Pangong Lake area, which includes the heights and territories around the Chushul and Rezang La area.
The two sides also agreed on a joint mechanism to verify progress in the withdrawal process through delegation meetings, as well as the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The Indian side is moving very carefully on the issue, as there is a large trust deficit with China after the clash in the Galwan Valley in June this year in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives and many army soldiers. Chinese, including their commanding officer, were killed by Indian troops.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trusted security team, including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Defense Chief of Staff General Bipin Rawat, Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane and Air Force Chief RKS Bhadauria, had taken strong military measures such as occupying the dominant heights along the southern and northern shores of Lake Pangong in LAC, including features Ane La and Que La.
China had mobilized its troops in a massive deployment throughout LAC and transgressed at multiple locations in India, including patrol points 14, 15, 15 A, 17 and 17A and the Finger area in the April time period. to May in the 14th Corps area of responsibility with Lt Gen Harinder Singh as Corps Commander and Major General Abhijit Bapat as the Commander of the Karu-based 3rd Infantry Division.
India gave a great response as it moved about 60,000 troops for advanced deployments, as well as bringing in reserve divisions from the nearby sector and the plains of Himachal Pradesh. The Indian Air Force conducted rapid front line deployments where its fighter jets and attack helicopters were in ‘ready to fire’ mode, while its Garud Special Forces were deployed to the approach areas with air defense systems. Igla to eliminate any approaching enemy aircraft.
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