Withdrawal from Depsang challenge

Af ter the smooth disengagement from the Pangong Tso area in eastern Ladakh, Indian and Chinese militar y commanders, during their marathon talks on Saturday have decided to work out a roadmap for pull back of troops at other friction points along the 1,597-km Line of Actual Control in Ladakh.

A media report said though the disengagement from friction points of Gogra-Hot Springs on the banks of Chang Chemmo river, a tributar y of Shyok, is not expected to be contentious, pullbacks from the Depsang plain could be more problematic.

It said the Depsang bulge is a 2013 legacy issue with PLA tr ying to muscle out Indian Army patrols from points 10 to 13 by blocking the ingress route at Raki and Jeevan nullah. While Indian Army claims to be patrolling these points, Depsang is a continuous source of friction and a possible trigger to future militar y escalation. China want to protect the road in the Aksai Chin area that links Tibet with Xinjiang.