India, China start pulling back from Pangong lake

NEW DELHI/BEIJING: India and China have started pulling back armoured elements — tanks and infantry combat vehicles (ICVS) — from heights on the southern bank of Pangong Tso along the Line of Actual (LAC), people familiar with the disengagement plan in New Delhi said on Wednesday, in what could be a possible movement towards resolving the nine-month military standoff between the two neighbours across multiple points in eastern Ladakh.

Troops are still holding positions on these strategic heights, they said on the condition of anonymity after the Chinese defence ministry announced in Beijing that the troops had started to disengage along the LAC near the salt-water lake.

In a statement published on the Chinese defence ministry website, spokesperson Wu Qian said that according to the consensus reached during the ninth round of military commanderlevel talks between the nations, the frontline units of the Chinese and Indian armed forces have begun to disengage at Pangong lake. The troops have begun to disengage “simultaneously and systematically”, Wu was quoted as saying in the statement.

The details of the disengagement were not shared by the Chinese defence ministry. New Delhi was yet to respond to the statement officially till the time this report was filed.

“On the face of it, the disengagement is a positive step. I think we will have to wait for details of the process, whether it includes all military presence or only heavy equipment,” said former Northern Army commander Lieutenant General DS Hooda (retd).

The Indian Army occupied a series of key heights to prevent

WASHINGTON: The US has expressed concern at China’s attempts to “intimidate its neighbours” against the backdrop of the India-china standoff at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and said it will stand with friends and partners to advance security and prosperity across the Indo-pacific.