Chinese troops withdraw from Daulat Beg Oldi sector

The Chinese troops have pulled back from Daulat Beg Oldi sector in Ladakh where they had intruded on April 15, it was confirmed today even as India was considering a proposal from China to have more friendly contacts between the Armies of the two countries.

A day after flag meetings were held to work out the modalities and arrangements to restore the status quo ante in the sector, sources said they have got a confirmation on the arrangements being completed on Tuesday.

Sources said the Army's Unmanned Aerial Vehicles operating in Eastern Ladakh have confirmed that the Chinese platoon camping in Depsang valley has gone back to its side of the Line of Actual Control.

Denying that any deal was struck to reach the agreement to restore status quo as it existed prior to April 15 when the Chinese troops intruded 19 km into the Indian territory, sources said India has only "taken-off" a "tin-shed" construction done in Chumar on April 18.

Meanwhile, India is considering a Chinese proposal 'Border Defence Cooperation Agreement' aimed at expanding friendly contacts and more communication between the troops of the two sides on the ground which will help in avoiding any misunderstanding or flare-up along the LAC, sources said.

A note on the BDCA is soon expected to be circulated to all stake-holders, including the defence ministry, and a final call on it will be taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security, sources said.

The sources said that "at no point did India overestimate the significance or underestimate the seriousness" of the Chinese incursion.

The sources also said India will stress upon China the need to have clarification on the differing perceptions of LAC.

Noting that in the agreements done in 1993 and 1996 between India and China on the issue of LAC, there were clarifications on the differing perceptions on LAC and there were exchanges on it, the sources said that somehow in later years, this discussion went off the table from Chinese side, probably because there was a sense that it may be taken as default boundary.

"There is a need to revive this particular subject to prevent incident of this nature. Clarifications we really seek is imperative and is required. (Otherwise) This (Depsang incursion) kind of incidents could recur. This is something we would certainly flag," sources said.

According to sources, these issues, along with trade imbalance in favour of China, having an expert-level mechanism to deal with issue of waters and review of bilateral ties will be on the agenda of External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid's two-day visit to China from Thursday.