India and China Complete Troop Withdrawal from Border Dispute Zone

India and China Complete Troop Withdrawal from Border Dispute Zone, Indian Official Confirms

India and China have successfully withdrawn their troops from two key stand-off points along their contested Himalayan border, an Indian defense official confirmed on Wednesday. This move marks a significant step towards easing tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

Last week, both nations reached an agreement to de-escalate military presence in the Ladakh region, a territory under Indian administration, thereby resolving a military standoff that had persisted for four years. The agreement aims to restore peace in the region and pave the way for improved political and economic relations.

The disengagement process, which began last week, has been completed, with ongoing verification to ensure full compliance, according to the Indian official. As part of the de-escalation, soldiers from both sides will exchange sweets in a symbolic gesture of goodwill on Thursday. Patrolling duties are expected to resume after commanders from both nations finalize the details on the ground.

Beijing has yet to release an official statement on this latest troop withdrawal.

The 4,000 km-long border that runs through the Himalayas remains largely undemarcated, leading to decades of disputes between the world’s two most populous nations. This tension culminated in a brief but violent war in 1962. More recently, clashes at the border four years ago claimed the lives of 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers.

In response to these clashes, both nations temporarily halted patrols at several border points in Ladakh to prevent further confrontations. During this period, both countries deployed tens of thousands of troops and advanced military equipment to the freezing, high-altitude region. Although troops were pulled back from five stand-off points in earlier efforts, the last major withdrawal took place more than two years ago.

The latest agreement comes just days after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met formally for the first time in five years on the sidelines of a BRICS summit in Russia. During their discussions, both leaders agreed to enhance communication and seek peaceful resolutions to bilateral disputes.

While this development is expected to foster improved economic ties, Indian officials remain cautious due to lingering mistrust between the two nations. Nonetheless, the successful completion of this disengagement signals a positive step towards rebuilding relations.