Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 28

India and China today agreed to “expeditious disengagement” of border personnel at Doklam, bringing to an end a tense standoff since June 16 at the plateau located at the Sikkim-Bhutan-China tri-junction.The announcement that the process of disengagement “has since been almost completed under verification” comes ahead of the September 3-5 BRICS Summit in China. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to attend the annual meeting of the multi-lateral grouping.

Edit:Border standoff

Emphasising that India always maintained it is only through diplomatic channels that differences on such matters can be addressed, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said: “Our principled position is that agreements and understandings reached on boundary issues must be scrupulously respected.”(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)The MEA was responding to questions following reports quoting Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying that Indian soldiers and equipment had been pulled back to the Indian side of the border and the Chinese side continued to patrol the Doklam area. “The Chinese side continues to uphold sovereignty and territorial integrity according to the historical convention,” she said.There was no mention by either side whether the construction of the road, which India objected to, would be stopped by China.The dispute leading to a face-off at the border began after Indian troops stepped on to a territory held by Bhutan, preventing a Chinese team from constructing a road near the plateau. While New Delhi said it significantly changed the status quo having “serious security implications” for it, China insisted India must pull back its troops before any discussion.Earlier, India announced that both sides maintained diplomatic communication and during these exchanges, New Delhi was able to express its views and convey its concerns and interests.The MEA said India’s policy remained guided by the belief that peace and tranquility in the border areas was an essential prerequisite to further development of bilateral relationship.Meanwhile, sources in the Indian Army said while its troops disengaged around noon, its “operational alert” across the 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) will continue during the month.Vigil will continue, the sources said, adding that operational moves on the Indian side would continue. China recently created a western theatre.

Concerns conveyed, says New Delhi“In recent weeks, India and China have maintained diplomatic communication in respect of incident at Doklam. We were able to express our views and convey concerns and interests… On this basis, expeditious disengagement of border personnel at face-off site has been agreed to, and is ongoing”— An MEA statementIndia has pulled back: Beijing“On the afternoon of August 28, the Indian side pulled back all Indian troops and equipment to the Indian side of the boundary and the Chinese personnel have verified this… The Chinese side will continue to exercise its sovereignty and uphold its territorial integrity in accordance with historical conventions” — Chinese spokesperson