Indian and Chinese troops have started withdrawing from Gogra-Hot Springs in Ladakh after reaching a consensus in the 16th round of military talks, the two sides said in a joint statement this evening.
“On 8th September 2022, according to the consensus reached in the 16th round of India China Corps Commander Level Meeting, the Indian and Chinese troops in the area of Gogra-Hot Springs (PP-15) have begun to disengage in a coordinated and planned way, which is conducive to the peace and tranquillity in the border areas,” the joint statement said.
The statement comes ahead of a meeting in Uzbekistan next week which Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to attend.
The 16th round of Corps Commander level talks between India and China were held on July 17.
India and China have been engaged in a standoff since April-May 2020 over transgressions by the Chinese army in multiple areas. The situation worsened after a violent face-off between Indian and Chinese soldiers in Galwan Valley in June 2020.
The talks have led to disengagement from some areas including the North and South Banks of Pangong Tso and Galwan but some friction points remain.
