China, India reach mutual disengagement agreement in Ladakh
An Indian military convoy in Ladakh in September 2020 (illustrative image).
AP - Dar Yasin
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
After more than nine months of tension, India and China have reached a mutual “disengagement” agreement on part of their disputed border in the Himalayas.
The withdrawal of troops from the northern and southern shores of Lake Pangong in Ladakh is expected to help ease tensions between the two Asian giants, which last June saw their first deadly clash in 45 years.
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It took nine rounds of negotiations, between senior Chinese and Indian officials, to reach this agreement.
The "
gradual
" and "
coordinated
"
withdrawal
of troops, on either side of the Himalayan border in the Ladakh region, comes after several clashes between the two nuclear powers.
In April, New Delhi accused Beijing of having crossed the border.
A month later - further south in Sikkim - hand-to-hand fighting revived tensions.
In June it's climbing.
At least 20 Indian soldiers are killed
in a skirmish in the disputed area in Ladakh.
China also suffered losses, but the number will never be revealed.
Finally in January,
new clashes left
several injured in both camps.
"
We have not conceded anything
," warned Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh who expects a mutual and reciprocal withdrawal.
The day before Beijing had just indicated the beginning of the "
synchronized disengagement
".
A withdrawal which began on Wednesday and which concerns tens of thousands of soldiers equipped with heavy weapons.
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