The Indian Army has commenced full-scale patrolling in Demchok, eastern Ladakh, and will soon begin in Depsang Plains. This follows after initial patrols confirmed that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China dismantled its temporary structures and withdrew troops to pre-April 2020 positions.
This action adheres to the October 21 agreement on “patrolling arrangements,” concluding disengagement at two of the seven face-off sites that emerged from Chinese incursions in April-May 2020. Patrolling is done with prior notification to the PLA to avoid clashes.
“Our patrols now have full unrestricted access to the five patrolling points (PPs) in Depsang and two in Demchok, which was earlier blocked by Chinese soldiers. The PLA, too, has begun its own patrols with prior information to us to prevent the possibility of any clash,” said a defence source in a TOI report.
Indian soldiers conducted initial patrols at PP-10, 11, 11A, 12, and 13 in Depsang Plains for the first time in almost five years. These patrols pass through the “Bottleneck,” an area 18 km inside Indian territory previously blocked by the PLA since April-May 2020.
“The patrols at both Depsang and Demchok will be determined by our operational requirements and tasking,” the source noted.
Depsang, a plateau at an altitude of 16,000 feet, forms part of India’s Sub-Sector North (SSN). China claims most of the 972 square km territory in the Depsang Plains, which both sides claim.At the Charding Ninglung Nallah track junction near Demchok, Indian troops will now access two key PPs. Villagers can also return to their traditional grazing areas. “Our troops will now be able to patrol right till Charding La (La means pass) at an altitude of over 19,000-feet,” the source added.After stabilizing Depsang and Demchok, attention will shift to restoring patrolling rights in buffer zones established after previous disengagements by September 2022. These zones, ranging from 3 km to 10 km, mostly lie within areas India claims. “They were temporary arrangements to prevent clashes. We want unhindered patrolling in these areas as well,” the source stated.
India continues to seek the de-escalation and withdrawal of over 50,000 PLA troops deployed in eastern Ladakh, and an additional 90,000 across Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
(With inputs from TOI)