80-90% disengagement completed at Depsang and Demchok by armies of India and China: Report

Defence ministry sources on Monday said that 80-90 per cent of disengagement has been completed at Depsang and Demchok by the armies of India and China, news agency ANI said.

The process includes removal of all types of infrastructure and pulling back of troops by both sides.

The ministry sources further added that the process is likely to be completed by October 29.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar earlier on Sunday had said the disengagement of troops at Depsang and Demchok in Ladakh is the first step, and it is expected that India will return to the 2020 patrolling status.

Earlier this week, India announced it had reached an agreement with China on patrolling along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, a major breakthrough in ending the over four-year-long military standoff.

Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Jaishankar said consensus has been achieved on patrolling and disengagement in Depsang and Demchok.

"It is obvious it will take time to implement the same. This is the issue of disengagement and patrolling which meant our armies had come very close to each other and now they have gone back to their bases. We hope the 2020 status is restored," he said.

The completion of disengagement is the first step. The next step is de-escalation which will not happen until India is sure that the same is happening on the other side as well, the External Affairs Minister said.

"After de-escalation, how to manage the borders will be discussed," he added.

(With PTI inputs)