Ladakh: New Satellite Images Show China Pulling Back From Finger Area, Dismantling Its Camps On The North Bank Of Pangong Lake

Latest satellite images show China has started pulling back from the area between Finger 4 and Finger 8 and dismantling the military camps and other structures it had built on the north bank of the Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh.

In April 2020, China had moved forces to Finger area on the northern bank of Pangong Tso, occupying an eight-kilometre-long stretch between Fingers 4 and 8. Before April 2020, this area was patrolled by both sides but not controlled by either.

With the People’s Liberation Army soldiers sitting on the Finger 4 ridgeline, Indian troops could no longer patrol up to Finger 8 to assert their claim.

Under the disengagement deal reached by both sides after nine rounds of negotiations, the Chinese forces have to pull back from Finger 4 and go back to their permanent base east of Finger 8.

Indian forces are required to remain at their base near Finger 3, also called the Dhan Singh Thapa Post, not far from where they had been deployed during the ongoing standoff with China.

Satellite images show that China has started pulling back its forces and dismantling the structures it had built to sustain them in the area.

China has dismantled military camps, helipads and a jetty at Finger 5.

India is verifying China’s moves to make sure it is complying with the terms of the agreement reached under the disengagement deal.

Pictures and videos showing Chinese forces dismantling their military camps, possibly taken from an unmanned aerial vehicle operated by the Indian forces in eastern Ladakh, have been shared with the media.

On the southern bank of the Pangong Lake, where India had occupied tactically important heights on the intervening night of 29 and 30 August, China has started pulling back its forces and heavy equipment, including tanks, to its base in Rutog.

India has also started pulling back armour and troops from the heights.

During the standoff, at some positions in the area south of Pangong Lake, Indian and Chinese tanks were deployed only a few hundred metres apart.