New Delhi: India and China completed round one of joint patrolling in the friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) after the recent disengagement pact between the two countries. The first round of patrolling was reportedly completed in the first week of November. India will commence the second round of patrolling in Demchok and Despang this week, sources told Times Now.
After the announcement of disengagement, both armies removed temporary infrastructure from Demchok and Depsang points. Following the disengagement, troops of India and China exchanged sweets at several border points along the LAC on the occasion of Diwali.
Relations between India and China have improved significantly in the past few days after an agreement on disengagement and patrolling along the LAC. Disengagement mainly involves removing infrastructure and withdrawing troops from both sides.
On October 30, the troops of both sides had completed the disengagement at the two friction points. The development had come four years after the Galwan clash. Last month, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday said that the Indian and Chinese sides have reached an agreement. Indian and Chinese military negotiators have reached an agreement regarding patrolling arrangement along LAC, Misri had said during a press conference.
Following Misri's announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping endorsed this agreement on the margins of the BRICS Summit in Russia.
For the unversed, the Galwan clash erupted on May 5, 2020, on the north bank of the Pangong Tso lake. It eventually led to a major clash on June 15 between an Indian patrol and PLA troops in Galwan Valley. The clashes also led to casualties on both sides.