New Delhi: In line with the first phase of the disengagement process from friction points in eastern Ladakh, Chinese troops have vacated the Finger 4 in Pangong Tso area, adhering to the agreement reached between India and China at June 30 Corps Commander-level talks, government sources said on Monday.
The Chinese military has already pulled back its troops from several frictional points in Ladakh including Gogra, Hot Springs and Galwan Valley. They had also reduced their presence in the ridgeline of Finger 4 in the last one week as demanded by India.
India has been pressing for the withdrawal of Chinese forces from areas between Finger 4 and 8. The mountain spurs in the area are referred to as Fingers.
The first phase of the disengagement process began last Monday with China’s PLA moving back tents, vehicles and troops by one-two km from friction points along the LAC in eastern Ladakh in the first step towards de-escalation of border tensions simmering between the two countries for two months.
The major development came days after the third Lt General-level meeting between the two countries during which the Chinese side agreed to focus on oriented de-escalation along the LAC.
Meanwhile, India and China will hold fourth round of Corps Commander-level talks on Tuesday to discuss modalities for the next phase of de-escalation as part of complete disengagement of troops in eastern Ladakh, sources said.
The two sides will hold the Lt General-level talks in Chushul on the Indian side of Line of Actual Control to finalise modalities for the withdrawal of troops from the rear bases of the two militaries.
The Indian and Chinese armies have been locked in a high-altitude bitter standoff in several locations in eastern Ladakh for over one month since May 5. The tension flared up manifold after a violent clash in Galwan Valley in which 20 Indian Army personnel were martyred.
