Indian and Chinese forces have started to withdraw from two conflict areas, Demchok and Depsang Plains located at Line of Actual Control (LAC), in the Eastern Ladakh region. Indian troops have begun relocating equipment to rear areas in the region in accordance with agreements, as stated by defense officials.

The leaders of both the countries, Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping, confirmed this agreement in the recently held BRICS conference. An  agreement was reached between the two countries on the resumption of patrolling along the Line of Actual Control. Accordingly, the pre-2020 Galwan conflict status quo will continue along the LAC. Soldiers of both countries can freely go to patrolling points.

Demchok and Depsang are key points

Recently, a key agreement was reached between India and China to end the tensions that has been going on for the last four years along the Line of Actual Control, and the process of withdrawal of forces along the borders has started. The forces of both countries are retreating from Demchok and Depsang, two key areas in the eastern Ladakh sector. To this extent, the officials of the Indian Defense Department disclosed.

According to the agreement, Indian forces are withdrawing military equipment and other equipment from the border area, the officials said. It has been revealed that the forces of both the countries are also removing the tents and temporary structures here. They said that the Indian forces are retreating towards the west of the river near the Charding La pass and the Chinese forces are retreating towards the east. It seems that there are around 10-12 temporary structures and 12 tents on both sides of the border. It is reported that patrolling will be resumed in Depsang and Demchok areas in the next 4-5 days after the completion of the process of withdrawal of forces.

Lessons after the Galwan Valley clash

The Galwan Valley battle - fought with sticks and clubs, not guns - was the first fatal confrontation between the two sides since 1975. On June 15, 2020, a fierce clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley of eastern Ladakh led to a tense situation. This brawl was the worst since 2020, when fighting in the Galwan Valley took the lives of 20 Indian and at least four Chinese soldiers. 20 Indian soldiers including Colonel Santosh Babu from Telangana were martyred in the clash. China also lost a lot of soldiers. But that number was not disclosed. After several months it was officially acknowledged that the five were dead. In the wake of the clashes, both the countries have deployed large-scale forces along the LAC.

Since then there has been a tense atmosphere between the two countries. After that, diplomatic and commander-level talks were held between the two countries many times to remove the deadlock. As a result, the forces have already been withdrawn from some areas, but the forces have continued to be deployed at Demchok and Depsang, the centers of clashes.