Chinese incursion into the disputed area between Finger 4 and Finger 8 along the Pangong Lake in Ladakh has been the focal point of the standoff between India and China for past few weeks. Latest high resolution satellite images reviewed by India Today suggest that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has commenced a partial withdrawal from the Finger 4 area.
Images captured by commercial earth observation satellite SkySat on Friday confirmed a pullback by the Chinese troops from the road-level areas along the Pangong Tso, however, the bivouacs along the ridgeline are still visible in the imagery. Previous satellite images showed a clear withdrawal by both troops in Galwan river valley.
In the new satellite images, the vehicles and large structures have moved from Finger 4 area towards Finger 5. Interestingly, the Chinese map and Mandarin texts carved on the banks of the lake, earlier reported by India Today, have been covered.
While the number of small camps occupying the top ridgeline of Finger 4 has reduced, a significant number of such structures are still visible in these images.
No significant changes were observed in the PLA camps between Finger 4 and Finger 5 areas. While tarpaulins have been removed from some of the Chinese tents, their positions remain the same.
The next round of Corps Commander-level meeting between Indian and Chinese sides is likely to focus on further disengagement in Pangong Tso area. Both troops have already pulled back and created a buffer zone in the Galwan river valley.
This comes even as the disengagement process between Indian and Chinese troops at the Ladakh standoff point nears completion. Government sources have said the two sides are set to hold a fourth round of corps commander-level dialogue by early next week to finalise modalities for de-induction of troops by both sides in their rear bases along the LAC, the de-facto border between the two countries.
Both sides have completed creation of a buffer zone of three kilometres in the three friction points of Galwan Valley, Gogra and Hot Springs as part of a temporary measure, said the government sources. The sources have confirmed that troops have started the pullback process from Finger 4 area in Pangong Tso as well.
The disengagement of troops from the friction points formally kicked off on Monday following eight weeks of eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation between the two armies at multiple locations in eastern Ladakh.
