LAC standoff: PLA, Indian troops begin process of disengagement but will be a long haul

LAC standoff: PLA, Indian troops begin process of disengagement but will be a long haul

NEW DELHI : India and China on Wednesday kicked off initial disengagement in the Pangong Tso area of eastern Ladakh, the first easing after a prolonged military confrontation, by pulling back some tanks, howitzers and armoured vehicles. This will be followed by withdrawal of rival frontline troops from the `friction points’ if the phased de-escalation plan does not derail like it did after the Galwan Valley skirmish in June last year. The Chinese defence ministry in Beijing announced the “synchronized and organized disengagement” from the north and south banks of Pangong Tso in accordance with the “consensus reached” in the ninth round of the corps commander-level talks on January 24. “The initial steps are positive on both the north and south banks of Pangong Tso, with some simultaneous mutual pullback taking place smoothly. But it will be a very long haul in the sequential disengagement, de-escalation and de-induction process, with the progress being monitored and verified at every sta…