India, China finalise disengagement pact for Depsang Plains, Demchok in Eastern Ladakh

Troop disengagement expected to conclude by October 29, after which patrolling will commence

- SIMONTINI BHATTACHARJEE

The Indian Army announced on Friday that a long-anticipated "disengagement pact" between India and China has been formally finalised for two key "frictionless" sectors in Eastern Ladakh.

This accord, which comes after years of a tense military stand-off along the contested border, aims to restore stability in regions that have been a focus of heightened military friction since 2020. According to Army sources, India and China have begun troop disengagement, and the process is expected to conclude by October 28-29, marking a crucial move toward easing one of the most prolonged confrontations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Under this agreement, both nations have committed to coordinated patrols starting October 29, a move designed to enhance monitoring of their respective territories and manage the challenging, undefined border. An Army official involved in the planning of this historic pact stated, "We will keep informing each other regarding patrolling. We are going back to the position of April 2020."

The return to pre-standoff conditions represents a critical milestone in efforts to resolve the prolonged tensions that have strained India-China relations since the violent clashes in Galwan Valley in June 2020.

This recent pact specifically addresses the two crucial areas of friction in Eastern Ladakh—the Depsang Plains and Demchok—while leaving out buffer zones and other previously tense sectors. According to Army sources, the agreement allows both countries to dismantle any temporary establishments within these contested locations and restore traditional patrolling routes.

"Adequate measures have been taken," sources from the Indian Army confirmed, adding that conversations are ongoing to address various sectors across the LAC. While troops will initiate coordinated disengagement, both Indian and Chinese forces will continue to maintain a controlled presence, remaining stationed at their current posts.