Exclusive Unveiling: First Images Capture Emotional Disengagement of Chinese Troops in Ladakh
In a significant development for India-China relations, satellite images obtained by NDTV reveal progress in the disengagement process along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh, following an agreement reached between the two countries. The disengagement is visible in satellite images from Maxar, which show changes at Depsang and Demchok, two contentious areas where Indian and Chinese troops have been at a stand-off since May 2020.
The images from the Depsang plains, captured on October 11, depicted military tents and vehicles, which by Friday had been dismantled and moved, indicating progress in restoring the area to its pre-stand-off state. Similarly, images from Demchok show the removal of semi-permanent Chinese structures, marking a de-escalation in the contested region.
The disengagement agreement was initially announced by Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar confirming the return to pre-2020 positions during the NDTV World Summit. Jaishankar noted that the newfound understanding between India and China would allow for the resumption of patrolling activities as initially conducted.
As part of the agreement, both nations will maintain surveillance capabilities in these areas, ensuring that troop movements are communicated beforehand to prevent any misunderstandings. This development follows a deadly clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020, which resulted in the loss of 20 Indian soldiers and unconfirmed casualties on the Chinese side.
In a diplomatic stride, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met during the BRICS summit in Russia, marking their first bilateral meeting since 2019. The leaders welcomed the agreement, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace and stability along the border. The complete disengagement process is expected to conclude by October 29, with troops returning to their original positions, thus easing tensions that have persisted for over three years.
Original Story https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/ndtv-exclusive-1st-images-of-chinese-troops-disengagement-in-ladakh-6874634
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Publish Date: 2024-10-25 23:40:00
