WHAT HAS HAPPENED ?
In a major development, the Indian and Chinese troops have begun, The disengagement process in Gogra-Hot Springs PP-15 in eastern Ladakh, the Defence Ministry said on Thursday.
WHEN THE 16TH ROUND TOOK PLACE ?
During the 16th round of high-level military talks in July, the Indian and Chinese armies agreed to work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues in eastern Ladakh at the earliest.
The two sides reaffirmed that the resolution of pending issues would help in the restoration of peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the region and enable progress in bilateral relations.
On July 7, in Bali for the G-20 foreign ministers' meeting, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Chinese Foreign minister and State Councillor Wang Yi,
Amid the ongoing standoff between troops along the India-China border, and called for an early resolution to the more than two-year-long standoff.
Jaishankar underlined that India-China relationship is "best served by observing the three mutuals - mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests".
CURRENT POSITION AT HOT SPRING ?
Platoon-sized units have been present on the Indian side of the LAC, at PP15, since the Galwan clashes in 2020, but the forces are no longer in an "eyeball to eyeball" confrontation.
"There is a distance of about 500m between troops of both countries at these friction points.
But disengagement is important because it is difficult to maintain these positions, and matters can go out of hand any time.".
WHAT ABOUT OTHER SITES ?
Indian and Chinese militaries have been locked in a border standoff since May 2020 following a violent clash between the troops of both sides in the Pangong lake areas.
In a bid to end the stalemate, the two countries have so far held multiple series of military and diplomatic talks.
As a result, the two sides completed the disengagement process last year in the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area.
