NEW DELHI: India and China have started disengaging troops from the friction areas of Demchok and Depsang Plains in eastern Ladakh. The disengagement will be completed by 28-29. Defence sources said patrolling, which was suspended in April 2020, will resume. Temporary structures such as tents and sheds built on both sides of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) have been demolished based on the agreement to resolve the standoff that has existed since the 2020 skirmishes.

Patrolling will resume

• The disengagement is only in the Demchok and Depsang plains. Patrolling here, which was there till April 2020, will resume. Both sides will conduct communication and monitoring in this regard. The ground commanders' meetings will continue.
• The two countries will coordinate patrolling to avoid confrontations. Schedules will be shared. 14-15 soldiers in a patrol team.

Result of Russia's intervention

On the 21st, India had announced that it had reached an agreement with China to withdraw its troops and resume patrolling. There are indications that Russia's involvement has been crucial in the talks that began last August. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, and discussed measures to resolve the disputes. They both welcomed the deal.