India says troops ‘disengaging’ after stand-off with China

NEW DELHI, India – India said Monday, August 28, its troops were disengaging from a months-long stand-off with the Chinese military at a strategically important  disputed area in the Himalayas.

The foreign ministry said it had reached an “understanding” after talks with Beijing on the confrontation in an area near the Indian border that is claimed by both China and Bhutan.

“India and China have maintained diplomatic communication in respect of the incident at Doklam,” the ministry said in a statement referring to the stand-off, which began on June 16.

“During these communications, we were able to express our views and convey our concerns and interests.

“Expeditious disengagement of border personnel at the face-off site at Doklam has been agreed to and is ongoing.”

India and China share a long history of mistrust and went to war in 1962 over the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.

Analysts said the latest stand-off, provoked by Chinese troops attempting to build a road on the disputed territory, was the worst crisis in relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors for decades.

Monday’s announcement comes days before India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to travel to China for a summit of BRICS countries — India, China, Russia, Brazil and South Africa. – Rappler.com