NEW DELHI: The Indian Army began patrolling at Demchok on Friday, days after Indian and Chinese troops completed disengagement at two friction points in eastern Ladakh, Army sources said.
Patrolling at Depsang is expected to resume shortly, they added.
Indian and Chinese troops have completed disengagement at two friction points: Demchok and Depsang Plains in eastern Ladakh, and patrolling is set to commence soon at these locations, Army sources had reported on Wednesday.
Indian and Chinese troops exchanged sweets at several border points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the occasion of Diwali on Thursday.
The traditional practice was observed a day after both countries completed troop disengagement at the two friction points, bringing a fresh thaw in Sino-Indian ties.
Patrolling has begun at Demchok, according to an Army source.
Sources had earlier stated that the areas and patrolling status were expected to revert to pre-April 2020 levels.
The verification process after disengagement was in progress, and patrolling modalities were to be determined between ground commanders, the sources had noted on Wednesday.
“Talks will continue at the local commander level,” they added.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on October 21 said in Delhi that an agreement was finalized between India and China following negotiations over the past several weeks, which would lead to a resolution of the issues that arose in 2020.
The agreement was solidified regarding patrolling and disengagement of troops along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, marking a breakthrough to end the over four-year standoff.
This move represents a significant development in the effort to reduce tension along the LAC in eastern Ladakh since the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020, which marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.
The ties between the two Asian giants had deteriorated following the clash.
