India-China border dispute: Troops disengage from a key point

Ladakh: As part of a five-day disengagement process, India and China pulled back their troops from the face-off site of Patrolling Point 15 in the Gogra-Hotsprings area in eastern Ladakh. The troops were moved to the rear locations from the frontlines.

The plan was developed after the 16th round of high-level military talks in July. It has been agreed that there will be no unilateral change in the status quo of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in this area.

As per the plan, temporary infrastructure was dismantled. On September 8, both armies announced that the disengagement process started from the PP-15. Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande said that the process is going as per schedule.

It is not clear whether a buffer zone will be created at PP-15. Similar steps were taken after the troops disengaged in friction points on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and at Patrolling Point 17(A). A buffer zone will not see patrolling from either side.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on September 9 that the disengagement process in PP-15 will be completed on Monday. "The two sides have agreed to cease forward deployments in this area in a phased, coordinated, and verified manner, resulting in the return of the troops of both sides to their respective areas."

"It has been agreed that all temporary structures and other allied infrastructure created in the area by both sides will be dismantled and mutually verified. The landforms in the area will be restored to the pre-stand-off period by both sides," he added.

However, there has been no progress in resolving the standoff in Demchok and Depsang regions.