The Indian Army has achieved a significant milestone by successfully conducting a patrol in the Depsang area of eastern Ladakh, marking its first such exercise since the aggressive clashes in 2020 that resulted in a prolonged standoff. This development comes in the wake of an agreement reached between India and China aimed at disengagement and the resumption of patrolling efforts around the region.
In a statement via Twitter, the Leh-based Fire and Fury Corps announced, “Following the consensus reached between the Indian and Chinese sides for disengagement and resumption of patrolling in Depsang and Demchok, the Indian Army patrol to one of the patrolling points in Depsang was successfully conducted today. This is yet another positive step towards maintaining peace and tranquility on the LAC.”
Reports indicate that a contingent of approximately 10 to 12 Indian soldiers, accompanied by ponies, made their way to the bottleneck area that provides access to the vast Depsang Plains, patrolling up to Patrolling Point 10. This patrol covered a distance of around five kilometers, emphasizing the measured approach being adopted.
India’s patrolling capability in this sensitive region permits access to points 10, 11, 11A, 12, and 13. Nevertheless, the decision has been taken to limit the Indian Army’s patrols to only one or two points initially. This strategy aims to foster trust and gradually restore the patrolling status to pre-April 2020 levels.
Moreover, the spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, previously noted that in accordance with the disengagement agreement with China, verification patrols were initiated based on mutually agreed terms in both the Demchok and Depsang areas.
This latest development signals a cautious yet optimistic step toward de-escalation in a region that has seen rising tensions in recent years, reflecting both nations’ commitment to maintaining peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
