China withdraws troops, tents in Galwan Valley

India and China on Monday began the process of troop disengagement at least from three sites in the Galwan valley in eastern Ladakh that witnessed a tense stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops for more than two months.

"The process of disengagement has commenced in Galwan. Structures in the area of Patrol Point 14 have been removed," Army sources said. As per a mutually agreed protocol, senior commanders from both sides will verify the extent of the disengagement in the next 72 hours before the next course of action is taken.

Read: Unarmed Indian soldiers were caught by surprise in Galwan Valley clash, families say

Besides removal of tents and structures at PP-14, withdrawal movements of vehicles and troops have also been noticed at Gogra Post and Hot Spring areas too.

This is the first sign of withdrawal of the troops by the People's Liberation Army that comes in the wake of three rounds of meetings between military commanders from both sides.

Sources said few persons and vehicles were also withdrawn from the controversial Finger Complex on the northern banks of the Pangong lake where the PLA had blocked the Indian Army at Finger 4,which is nearly 8 km before India’s traditional patrolling point at Finger 8.

Indian Army, however, has not lowered its guard even a bit because of an air of mistrust that hangs over the bilateral agenda ever since the stand-off began in April.

Also read — Era of expansionism is over, says PM Narendra Modi from Ladakh

The pull back comes a week after the third round of talks between senior level military commanders from the Indian Army and PLA in which the two sides agreed upon an “expeditious, phased and stepwise deescalation of troops as a priority” along the Line of Actual Control, the disputed border between the two neighbours.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ladakh last week where without mentioning China he asserted that the era of expansionism was over while interacting with the soldiers.

For more than two months, the troops from India and China are locked in a tense face-off at multiple locations in eastern Ladakh including Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso and Depsang Bulge. The face-off led to a violent clash on June 15 in which 20 Indian soldiers including their commanding officer and a significant number of Chinese troops were killed.

India has been insisting on restoration of status quo in all areas of eastern Ladakh to restore peace and tranquillity in the region. The two countries held several rounds of diplomatic and military talks in the last few weeks to ease tension in the region.