GOVT SAYS DISENGAGEMENT WITH CHINA COMPLETE IN EASTERN LADAKH’S GOGRA HEIGHTS

The disengagement between India and China in the Gogra Heights area of eastern Ladakh has been completed and both sides are back to their permanent bases, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.

During the 12th round of military talks, India and China had agreed to disengage troops from patrolling point 17A, also known as Gogra Heights, one of the friction points between the two countries in the eastern Ladakh region.

Addressing a press conference, the MEA spokesperson said that the landform in the Gogra Heights area has been “restored by both sides to pre-standoff period”.

“You would have seen the detailed press releases issued regarding the 12th round of Corps Commander-level talks and on disengagement in the area of Gogra. The disengagement process at that area has been completed and troops of both sides are now in their respective permanent bases,” the spokesperson added.

According to the MEA, India and China have expressed commitment to take the talks forward and resolve remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector. “As you know, India has always maintained that disengagement, followed by de-escalation, would help our overall bilateral relations move forward,” the spokesperson said.

As per the agreement reached during corpus commander talks, both sides have ceased forward deployments in PP-17 in a phased, coordinated and verified manner. The disengagement process was carried out over two days on 4-5 August and troops of both sides are now in their respective permanent bases.

The spokesperson said that all temporary structures and other allied infrastructure created in the area by both sides have been dismantled and mutually verified. The landform in the area has been restored by both sides to the pre-stand off period.

The last disengagement agreed and acted upon by both sides was in February this year when they disengaged from the banks of Pangong Lake.