Doval talk eases Ladakh standoff, Chinese troops retreat 2 km from LAC

The ongoing standoff between India and China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is likely to be resolved soon, with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval keeping a close watch at the development, sources said. Meanwhile, top government sources informed that both Indian and Chinese troops have retreated 2 km each along the LAC in the Galwan Valley.

The Special Representatives of India and China on the Boundary Question — Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi — had a “frank and in-depth exchange” during a telephone conversation on Sunday during which they agreed that both sides should complete the ongoing disengagement process along the LAC expeditiously, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Monday.

The government sources said that Doval talked to Wang made the Chinese agree to begin the process of disengagement. Following this, the Chinese have started to withdraw their troops and tents in Galwan by 2 km and in next few days, disengagement process will begin in other friction points including PP-14, PP15, Hot Springs and Finger area.

“NSA Ajit Doval talked to his Chinese counterpart for two hours yesterday to make the Chinese agree to begin the process of disengagement. The NSA is monitoring the situation continuously with the Indian Army and the matter is expected to be resolved amicably soon,” the sources said.

The MEA said that Doval and Wang, during the talks, have agreed that it was necessary to ensure at the earliest the complete disengagement of the troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and de-escalation from India-China border areas for full restoration of peace and tranquillity.

 Meanwhile, Indian Army sources said that mutual disengagement between India and China has started at friction points along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh sector.

Both sides have moved back tents, vehicles and troops by 2 km from the LAC. With the retreat from both sides, a 4-km no-man zone has been created. “Four kilometres in the highly mountainous terrain like Galwan valley, deprives both sides to see each other’s installations and reinforcements,” government sources said, adding that the two sides have also agreed not to do any aerial surveillance of the retreated area, to rebuild trust which was badly damaged due to the June 15-16 violent face-off.

With agency inputs