Chinese infantry was seen retreating from both sides of Pangong Lake, days after the disengagement between India and China started at the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Chinese army tanks have retreated to the Sengdong base 50 km away and India has been monitoring the entire process of retreat.
Multiple videos and images released by the Indian Army Tuesday showed the continued process of disengagement between Chinese and Indian forces on both banks of the lake.
The disengagement process at both northern and southern banks of the Pangong Lake is expected to be complete by February 20, and within 48 hours of the disengagement, a discussion will begin at the Corps Commander level to find a solution to other disputed sites, including the Depsang Plains.
Videos also showed Chinese forces dismantling tents and bunkers and carrying heavy load and walking on the mountainous terrain.
More pics of Indian and Chinese troops and tanks disengaging from the banks of Pangong lake area in Eastern Ladakh where they had been deployed opposite each other for almost ten months now.
(Pics Source: Northern Command, Indian Army) pic.twitter.com/3QjC56Asxk
— ANI (@ANI) February 16, 2021
Chinese troops will move back to Finger 8 and Indian troops will pull back to the Dhan Singh Thapa post between Finger 2 and 3 of the north bank of Pangong Lake. And the area in between will be no man's land for now with both sides agreeing not to patrol.
Once the disengagement is over at Pangong Lake, no patrolling will take place in the area from Finger 4 to Finger 8 till both sides agree via diplomatic and military talks.
The mountain spur jutting into the lake is referred to as Finger in military parlance. The north bank of the lake is divided into 8 Fingers. India has claimed its territory till Finger 8 and China disputes its claims till Finger 4.
There have been regular face-offs between the two armies between Finger 4 and Finger 8, a distance of eight kilometres, on the northern bank of the lake.
The 10th round of military talks, which was agreed to happen 48 hours after complete disengagement will happen, expectedly next week. The talks will focus on disengagement on Gogra, Depsang, and Hot Spring.