Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced on 11 February 2021that India and China are disengaging from standoff areas along the Line of Actual Control in Pangong-Tso Lake. The “synchronised and organised disengagement are to take place from the north and south banks of Pangong Lake. The announcement said that any structures that had been built by both sides since April 2020 in both North and South banks of Pangong Lake area will be removed and landforms will be restored.
This announcement follows protracted discussions between senior military commanders and diplomats of both sides after External Affairs Minister Jaishankar had face-to-face meeting with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Moscow in September 2020. The two Foreign Ministers had agreed that the situation in the border areas was not in the interests of either side. They agreed, therefore, that the border troops of both sides should continue their dialogue, quickly disengage, maintain proper distance and ease tension. The five-point plan followed consensus between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping to not allow differences to become disputes.and to create mechanisms for working towards new confidence-building measures (CBMs). Nine rounds of talks have taken between both the countries.
Five points broadly agreed upon are as follows:
- The Chinese side will keep its troop presence in north bank of Pangong Lake to east of “Finger 8”. Reciprocally, Indian troops will be based at their permanent base at Dhan Singh Thapa Post near “Finger 3”.
- There is also mention of disengagement in the south bank of Pangong Lake. The Kailash range is along this side and it’s a critical area as controlling the heights give an advantage.
- It has also been agreed to hold the next meeting of Senior Commanders within 48 hours after complete disengagement in Pangong Lake to resolve any remaining issues.
- It has been agreed to have a temporary moratorium on military activities by both sides in the north bank of Pangong Lake, including patrolling to areas traditionally controlled by both sides. Patrolling will be resumed only when both sides reach an agreement.
- Any structures that had been built by both sides since April 2020 in both north and south banks of Pangong Lake area will be removed and landforms will be restored.