AGARTALA, India, Aug. 14, Reuter: India and China have begun pulling back troops from the Himalayan border region, Indian army intelligence officials said.
India had undertaken “partial demobilization” of its forces in its far northeastern state of Arunchal Pradesh, where it says Chinese troops have made repeated incursions across the border, the officials told Reuters yesterday.
They said the withdrawals had been made in the disputed Sumdorong Chu Valley, where China last year constructed a helicopter pad in a sector claimed by India.
The Chinese had also reduced their troop strength, they added, but they could not confirm that the Helipad Glxdntiled.
The withdrawals are a part of an agreement patched up by army commanders at parleys on the border to ease tensions before formal talks resume later this year in New Delhi.
Asked when the demobilization would be complete the Indian officials said: “We are watching the Chinese moves and will go through our entire proposed withdrawal package once we are satisfied the Chinese are doing their promised bit”.
According to the agreed formula, both countries will retreat to their main defense lines along the McMahon Line the British drawn border between Tibet and India, which China has never accepted.
The border has remained tense since China and India fought a brief war in 1962. Seven rounds of talks since 1981 have failed to resolve the issue.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 21, 1987
