The ongoing dispute between India and China over East Ladakh seems to be over. Under the agreement reached on both sides, the Chinese Army has started retreating. For almost 9 months, the forces of India and China remained face to face and during this period, the situation deteriorated on several occasions.
Special orders were given
Lt Gen YK Joshi, the Chief of the Army's Northern Command, has told in an interview how China's attitude softened and it was forced to retreat. He said that when the dialogue did not get the desired success, then the army received special instructions from higher command. In these instructions, it was asked to do something that would put pressure on China. After this, on the intervening night of August 29-30, the Indian troops captured Rejang La and Rechin La on the southern shore of Pangong Lake and India again regained control.
Joshi said that after India's action on August 29-30, China was forced to bow down. After this, when the next round of talks took place, India had an upper hand. In an exclusive conversation with CNN News 18, Lt Gen YK Joshi said that on August 30, when Indian troops captured Rejang La and Rechin La, the Chinese army wanted to come face to face in the Kailash range. We were standing on the brink of absolute war and that time was very challenging for us.
'Did not expect so soon'
Joshi said that there is little surprise at the retreat of China because it was not expected so soon. He said that China was unlikely to pull back so quickly, but what the Indian Army had done at LAC on the night of August 29-30 proved to be the turning point. Joshi told that from February 10, the process of disengagement is going on in Pangong Tso, which both the forces will complete in four steps. So far, both sides have disengaged off-loading vehicles and tanks. He said that infantry personnel will be removed in Kailash Range Rejang in the third and fourth phase. Joshi further added that military officials of both countries are in talks with each other.
'We haven't left any land'
When asked whether India has left the land in the North Bank, Lt Gen Joshi said, "There is no truth in this. The two countries have agreed on a deal and China is retreating under it. China will retreat from Finger 8 and Finger 4. Finger 8 is our claim line and Chinese army is going behind it. The situation between Finger 4 and Finger 8 will be like it was before April 2020. Not only this, China will not do any activity near our claim line, which is a big success for us."
