NEW DELHI: Following an agreement at the 12th round of Corps Commander talks, after nearly 15 months of a face-off between the two sides, the Indian Army has said that India and China have undertaken disengagement from the Gogra area of Eastern Ladakh. 

The Corps Commander talks went on for nine hours, during which both sides exchanged in-depth views on resolution of the remaining areas related to disengagement along the LAC in the Western Sector of border areas.

This area is the second friction after Pangong Tso (lake) which was disengaged in February as part of efforts of overall disengagement and de-escalation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.

With this de-escalation and restoration of the pre-standoff ground position in Gogra peace and tranquillity in the region will be steadily restored. 

Announcing the development on Friday the Army said in a statement, "As per the agreement, both sides have ceased forward deployments in this area in a phased, coordinated and verified manner. The disengagement process was carried out over two days, August 04 and 05. The troops of both sides are now in their respective permanent bases."

"The disengagement process at PP-17A was carried out in line with the outcome of the 12th round of military talks that had taken place on July 31 at Chushul-Moldo meeting point in eastern Ladakh," the statement said.

The statement also said that all temporary structures and other allied infrastructure created in the area by both sides have been dismantled and mutually verified. "The landform in the area has been restored by both sides to pre-stand-off period," the statement added.

This agreement ensures that the LAC in this area would be strictly observed and respected by both sides and that there was no unilateral change in the status quo, the Army said.

With this development, the focus of further talks would now be on disengagement at PP15 in Hot Springs as the two sides have not yet reached an agreement for disengagement on that sector in Eastern Ladakh.