Disengagement in eastern Ladakh completed; Exchange of sweets today

New Delhi: The disengagement process with Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh has been completed and patrolling will commence soon, with modalities to be decided by ground commanders, Army sources have said.

In line with an agreement reached with China last week, the two armies have pulled back troops, removed temporary structures and disengaged at Depsang and Demchock on a mutually decided date. Sources said that a festive exchange of sweets is planned with Chinese troops on Thursday on the occasion of Diwali.

While physical verification of the removal of temporary infrastructure is under way, sources said that talks will continue at the level of brigadiers and below to work out patrolling modalities. As per the agreement, the two sides will inform each other about patrolling details to avoid troops coming face to face on the disputed area.


With the disengagement completed, patrolling is set to resume in the disputed Depsang and Demchock areas that had been cut off from access since 2020. This includes patrolling points 10, 11, 11A, 12 and 13 on the Depsang plateau. Besides ground patrols, the two sides will also use technical means for surveillance, including drones, to monitor the disputed area.

Earlier, China had dismantled military infrastructure in the Depsang area that had been used to block Indian access. The structures at 'Y Junction', which is a critical access point, have been dismantled and at least two other Chinese posts that had been erected on the plateau have been removed.

Depsang was the main outstanding issue in eastern Ladakh since disengagement was achieved in the Finger Area, Galwan and Gogra-Hot Springs. Sources have said that talks on resuming patrolling and normalising these areas will be conducted as well. Similarly, efforts are being made to ease tensions at two border hotspots in Arunachal Pradesh, including Yangste that had seen clashes between Indian and Chinese soldiers in the past.