New Delhi, Oct 30 (UNI) The disengagement process between Indian and Chinese troops in the Depsang and Demchok areas of eastern Ladakh has been completed and patrolling by both sides will begin soon, Army sources said here on Wednesday.
Moreover, on the occasion of Diwali tomorrow, both sides will also exchange sweets, sources said.
Sources said, "Following the disengagement process, talks between India and China at the local commander level will continue and coordinated patrolling by both sides will soon commence".
They further added that verification of disengagement is in progress and patrolling modalities will be decided between the ground commanders i.e brigadiers and below level officials.
It may be mentioned that on October 21, India and China arrived at an agreement on patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
This major breakthrough, enables Indian and Chinese soldiers to resume patrolling as they had been doing before the border face-off began in May 2020.
On October 26, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian at a briefing had also confirmed that the disengagement process between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh was “going on smoothly”, in keeping with the agreements reached between both sides.
After the agreement, army sources on October 25 had said that the disengagement process would be completed by 28 to 29 of this month and the patrolling by the Indian and Chinese troops will resume on October 30.
It may be mentioned that India and China reached an agreement on patrolling along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, ending the over four-year-long military standoff.
The agreement was arrived at only for the two friction points of Depsang and Demchok, and "talks are still underway" for other areas, sources had said.
After the disengagement, the areas and patrolling status are expected to be moved back to the pre-April 2020 level.
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