Indian and Chinese troops have begun pulling back from the Gogra-Hot Springs area in the disputed Himalayan border region, marking a further step in ongoing peace talks following deadly clashes in 2020. Both defence ministries confirmed the disengagement, describing it as conducive to peace and tranquillity in the border areas.
The withdrawal follows a consensus reached during the 16th round of bilateral talks between senior military commanders in July. This is the second major disengagement since August 2021, when troops ceased forward deployments and dismantled infrastructure in a nearby area, restoring it to pre-standoff conditions.
The dispute centres on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), a 2,167-mile boundary dividing Indian and Chinese-held territories. Tensions escalated in June 2020 when at least 24 soldiers died in hand-to-hand combat, the deadliest clash between the two nuclear powers in 50 years. Since then, hundreds of thousands of troops have been stationed along the LAC, backed by artillery, tanks, and fighter jets.
Despite 16 rounds of talks and several disengagements, disagreements persist. Strategic analyst Brahma Chellaney noted that China has been reluctant to discuss its largest encroachment into the Depsang plateau, and that both countries remain on a war footing along the Himalayas.
