India, China withdraw troops, structures along disputed border

Under new deal, they also agree to inform each other of movements of their patrols

- Nirmala Ganapathy

NEW DELHI - China and India have nearly completed the process of withdrawing troops and dismantling temporary structures like guard posts in two areas along a disputed border where their troops once faced off.

This comes after the two countries hammered out a new patrolling agreement, which was endorsed by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi when they met on the sidelines of the Brics summit in Kazan, Russia, on Oct 23.

Apart from both sides withdrawing their troops - which had previously stood eyeball to eyeball in Depsang and Demchok in the Ladakh region - the "disengagement" involved the removal of structures such as temporary guard posts and sheds, sources with knowledge of the developments along the border told The Straits Times.