New Delhi: India’s Foreign Ministry said that disengagement along a disputed border area with China where troops from both countries have been locked in a standoff for more than two years will be completed by September 12.

Indian and Chinese soldiers began withdrawing from Gogra Hot Springs area in western Himalayas, after deadly clashes at frontier in June 2020 strained diplomatic ties. Move comes ahead of a meeting in Uzbekistan next week that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to attend. “Two sides have agreed to cease forward deployments in this area in a phased, coordinated and verified manner, resulting in return of troops of both sides to their respective areas,” India Foreign Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said in a statement.

All temporary structures in area erected by both militaries will also be dismantled as part of agreement, he said. India and China share an undemarcated 3,800km border, where their troops previously adhered to long-standing protocols to avoid use of any firearms.

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 10 2022

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