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After nearly 15 months of face-off, the Indian and Chinese armies have completed the disengagement process and restored the pre-standoff ground position in Gogra in eastern Ladakh, in a significant forward movement towards restoration of peace and tranquillity in the region.
Announcing the development, the Indian Army said that the disengagement process was carried out on August 4 and 5 and all temporary structures as well as other allied infrastructure created by both sides have been dismantled and mutually verified subsequently.
The disengagement in the area around Gogra or Patrolling Point-17A (PP-17A) came over five months after the two sides withdrew their troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong Lake areas.
The Army said the disengagement process at PP-17A was carried out in line with the outcome of the 12th round of military talks that had taken place on July 31 at Chushul-Moldo meeting point in eastern Ladakh.
eople familiar with the development said a buffer zone has been created and no patrolling will take place in the area, adding the focus in the next round of military talks will be on the Hot Springs area.
“As an outcome of the meeting, both sides agreed on disengagement in the area of Gogra. The troops in this area have been in a face-off situation since May last year,” the Army said in the statement titled ‘disengagement at PP-17A’
“As per the agreement, both sides have ceased forward deployments in this area in a phased, coordinated and verified manner. The disengagement process was carried out over two days: August 4 and 5,” it said.
In the statement, the Army said the troops of both sides are now in their respective permanent bases. “With this one more sensitive area of face-off has been resolved. Both sides have expressed commitment to take the talks forward and resolve the remaining issues along the LAC in the Western Sector,” the Army said.
The eastern Ladakh is referred to as Western Sector by the government. Both sides had carried out partial disengagement in Gogra as well as Hot Springs last year. However, the process could not be completed following fresh skirmishes along the South bank of Pangong Tso areas.
