Pangong Lake: India and China to Pull Back from the Disputed Border

India: India and China are to pull back troops from part of their argue Himalayan border. In what’s seen as a breakthrough following a deadly crash in June. India’s defence minister said the move to withdraw troops in Ladakh. It was the result of “sustained talks” between the nuclear-armed neighbours. 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told India’s parliament that since September. Further, both sides are communicating through military and diplomatic channels.

On the other hand, he said that after nine rounds of meetings between senior military commanders, “we have been able to reach an agreement on disengagement in the north and south bank of the Pangong Lake”.

Colonel Wu Qian said the disengagement was in accordance with the consensus reached by both sides during military commander-level talks. Indian and Chinese troops have been facing off on the north and south shores of the glacial lake that lies in territory claimed by both sides.

Mr Singh also told parliament that China had “mobilized a large number of troops and armaments” along the border in Ladakh. And it had illegally occupied 38,000 sq km of Indian territory in the region.

On the other hand, June clash – fought with sticks and clubs, not guns. It was the first fatal confrontation between the two sides since 1975. Moreover, followed earlier non-deadly violence.

China has never commented on reports that it too hurt mortality. The two armies also clashed in January this year along the border in the north-east in India’s Sikkim state, leaving troops on both sides injured.