India, China concur on working towards complete disengagement of troop

New Delhi: The Indian foreign ministry has informed that India and China have concurred on withdrawal of the military from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh. The foreign ministry statement said that the process of military removal would be implemented as per the agreement, reached between the two countries. Chinese foreign ministry also has confirmed this, and it is said that both the sides reviewed the progress of the process of military withdrawal. On one side, discussions are on regarding military withdrawal from Ladakh. On the other hand, there are indications that China has increased its military deployment near Lipulekh on the India-Nepal border.

There is tremendous tension created on the Indo-Chinese border due to the inciting activities of the Chinese military on the border. Two months ago, in the act of betrayal, China had launched an attack on the Indian soldiers. At that time, the Indian military delivered a telling blow, forcing China to retreat from the border. But thereafter, China has started military deployment in various areas along the LAC. These include regions like Pangong Tso lake, Hot Springs and Depsang. India too has increased the defence deployments, and advanced fighter jets, drones, tanks, and additional army units have been deployed there.

While increasing the defence deployment, India has adopted a very aggressive stand on other issues too, thus bringing China under tremendous pressure. Through the two-month-long discussions regarding military withdrawal, India was persistent regarding the Chinese army withdrawal and had adopted a firm stand that India will not take any unilateral step. It is apparent that therefore, China was forced to express willingness for military withdrawal on the political level. A meeting between the Indian and Chinese military officials was held on 14th of July over the border dispute. Thereafter, no major movements have been made on the border by either side.

Against this background, the concurrence during the meeting of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC), formed by India and China, becomes important. Analysts indicated that in the near future, the beginning of the actual military withdrawal process by both the countries might be witnessed. But China, agreeing to withdraw the military from one area on the LAC, has started preparations to start a new border dispute with India. Since the last few days, China has begun increasing military deployment near Lipulekh, the point of conflict between India and Nepal. It has been exposed that China has deployed the 150 Light Combined Armed Brigade in this region, which is close to Kalapani valley in Uttarakhand.

India also has started preparations to retaliate against Chinese aggression. India approved two major road projects to ease the military movements in the Ladakh region. Sources claimed that the new roads would ensure that the supplies reach fast and easy to the military units deployed in Ladakh.