New Delhi: The two-km mutual
withdrawal of Indian and Chinese troops at Ladakh — on since Sunday after the Special Representative level talks — is complete in some areas, sources said. The withdrawal at Patrol Point 15 in Hot Springs is now complete. The 2-km mutual withdrawal at Patrol Point 17A (Gogra) will happen tomorrow or the day after, sources said.
Yesterday, the withdrawal at the Galwan river valley, where Indian and Chinese troops clashed with fatal results– the first in decades — appeared complete. Satellite images from the bend of the Galwan river as it crosses the Line of Actual Control and flows into Indian territory, showed the area cleared of Chinese troops and structures.
Some movement by the Chinese near the Pangong lake — the Finger 4 Area — is happening, sources said. Vehicles and tents have been removed but the ridge line remains occupied by the Chinese troops, sources said. Indian Government sources told NDTV that they are “cautiously hopeful” of a Chinese pull-back from all the areas by the middle of July, by which time military leaders are expected to hold another round of high-level talks.