Demchok-Depsang disengagement completed, but many conflict points remain along Line of Actual Control

indian and chinese armies

The troop withdrawal process from two areas along the India-China border is nearing completion. The two armies almost demolished temporary posts, shacks, tents, etc. in Demchok and Depsang. According to an officer, verification is currently underway to verify whether the disengagement has been completed. The process will be initiated by the Army. In addition to physical verification, monitoring is also carried out via drones. Thereafter, the two armies will coordinate patrols with each other in the coming days.

But what needs to be understood here is that the situation before the actual control line will only occur after the three D’s of “disengagement”, “downgrade” and “deactivation” are completed. Currently, as per the agreement between India and China, with the disengagement of Depsang and Demchok, the first phase D has been basically completed. Disengagement means a soldier withdraws from a confrontation. The second stage is when the situation eases, which is when soldiers, military equipment, and weapons of the two countries return to normal. The third D indicates that the third stage is the deduction stage.

Buffer has not yet reached consensus

There are still many conflict points along the LAC. These are PP-14, PP-15, PP-17A. No agreement has been reached with China yet. Buffer zones in Galwan, the north shore of Pangong Lake, the Kailash range and the Gogra hot springs area have yet to be agreed upon. The buffer zone refers to the area where the two armies cannot face each other. These areas separate the opposing forces.

After disengagement, buffer zones were set up in these four places, ranging from 3 to 10 kilometers. No one can patrol these areas. Sources said talks are on the right track so that progress can be made towards scrapping buffer zones and starting patrols in these areas.

Learn about the disputed region between India and China in eastern Ladakh:

• Galwan Valley: This region was the epicenter of violent confrontations between India and China in 2020.
• Pangong Tso: This lake is disputed between India and China, especially on its northern shore. Finger 4 and 8. These areas are located on the northern shore of Pangong Tso. So far, no agreement has been reached between India and China in this regard.
• Gogra Hot Springs: This area is an important patrol point of the Indian Army.
• Area near Gogra post: The area near Gogra post is disputed between India and China and is part of the standoff in eastern Ladakh. The confrontation took place in the western sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and has yet to be resolved.
• Mount Kailash – The Mount Kailash range is a disputed area between India and China, located on the border with Tibet. There is a border dispute between the two countries here, resulting in many conflicts. This region includes Lake Manasarovar in India and the Tibet Autonomous Region in China. Both countries claim the area.

Agreement reached before the BRICS Summit

The agreement between India and China to patrol the Line of Actual Control was reached ahead of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. Prime Minister Modi held a meeting with the Chinese President on October 23. Both countries support the agreement between India and China on patrolling and troop withdrawal along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

The leaders of the two countries have issued instructions to restart various bilateral dialogue mechanisms, marking their efforts to normalize relations despite the impact of deadly military conflicts in 2020.