India-China engagement rules: Patrols to carry arms; Counterparts to stay unarmed in meeting

New Delhi: As India and China resume patrolling in Demchok and Depsang after disengagement of troops, the terms of engagement on carrying arms will be similar to the one agreed during previous peace pacts signed between the two countries, said officials aware of the developments. The patrolling units will carry arms. However, personnel meeting their counterparts during patrol will remain unarmed, they added.

“Neither side shall use or threaten to use force against the other by any means. All temporary structures that came up since tensions escalated in 2020 have been removed as part of a joint agreement. The physical and technical verification of the border disengagement has been completed, leading to a resumption of patrolling,” said a South Block official.

“The patrolling by Indian troops in Demchok sector in eastern Ladakh started on Friday while patrolling in Depsang sector is expected to start soon,” the official said. It is learnt that as part of the agreement, Chinese soldiers have also resumed patrolling in Depsang and will start the process in Demchok later.

As per the deal, the two sides will inform each other about patrolling to avoid troops coming face to face. Besides ground patrol, the two sides will also use technical means for surveillance, including drones, to monitor the disputed area.

Earlier, China had dismantled military infrastructure in the Depsang area that had been used to block Indian access. The structures at ‘Y Junction’, which is a critical access point, have been dismantled and at least two other Chinese posts that had been erected on the plateau have been removed.