Troops from both sides began disengagement at the friction point on September 8

India and China will complete disengagement in the area of Gogra-Hot Springs (PP-15) of Eastern Ladakh by September 12.

The two sides have also agreed that all temporary structures and other allied infrastructure created in the area by both sides will be dismantled and mutually verified, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.

The landforms in the area will be restored to pre-stand-off period by both sides, MEA Official Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi added.

He was responding to a media query on the matter a day after India and China announced the that the disengagement process from the friction point along the Line of Actual Control had started.

In a joint statement issued on Thursday, India and China had said this disengagement is "according to the consensus reached in the 16th round of India China Corps Commander Level Meeting".

The 16th round of talks between the Corps Commanders of India and China was held at Chushul Moldo Meeting Point on 17 July this year.

Since then, the two sides had maintained regular contact to build on the progress achieved during the talks to resolve the relevant issues along the LAC in the Western Sector of India-China border areas, Bagchi pointed out.

As a result, both sides have now agreed on disengagement in the area of Gogra-Hot Springs (PP-15).

"As per the agreement, the disengagement process in this area started on 08 September 2022 at 0830 hrs and will be completed by 12 September 2022. The two sides have agreed to cease forward deployments in this area in a phased, coordinated and verified manner, resulting in the return of the troops of both sides to their respective areas," the MEA Official Spokesperson explained.

The agreement ensures that the LAC in this area will be strictly observed and respected by both sides, and that there will be no unilateral change in status quo, Bagchi added.

"With the resolution of stand-off at PP-15, both sides mutually agreed to take the talks forward and resolve the remaining issues along LAC and restore peace and tranquility in India-China border areas," he said.

Matters had come to a head in June 2020 when a violent face-off took place between Indian and Chinese troops in Eastern Ladakh's Galwan Valley. Twenty India soldiers lost their lives. A large number of Chinese solidiers also died.

Since then, India and China have been engaged in talks at the military as well as diplomatic levels for disengagement along friction points in the border areas of Eastern Ladakh.