NEW DELHI, July 6 - A day before Chinese military began pulling back from Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh, NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi agreed on an expeditious withdrawal of troops, holding that a complete disengagement at the �earliest� was necessary for full restoration of peace in border areas and both sides should not allow differences to become disputes.
Doval and Wang, who are special representatives for boundary talks between the two countries, held a telephonic conversation on Sunday during which they had a �frank and in-depth exchange� of views on the recent developments in the western sector, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday.
Significantly, Chinese troops began removing tents early on Monday and started to withdraw from Galwan Valley, the site of a violent hand-to-hand clash between the two militaries on June 15 that left 20 Indian soldiers dead, government sources said.
Rearward movement of vehicles and troops was seen in Gogra Hot Springs as well but there was no confirmation of similar disengagement in Pangong Tso area, said the sources. They said Chinese troops moved back around one kilometre from patrolling point 14, 15 and 17 in Galwan Valley.
In the talks, Doval and Wang re-affirmed that both sides should �strictly respect� and observe the Line of Actual Control and should not take any unilateral action to alter the status quo, the MEA said.
The two special representatives agreed to continue their conversations to ensure �full and enduring restoration� of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas.
It was the first time that Doval and Wang held talks during the ongoing stand-off.
Government sources said India is strictly monitoring whether China was withdrawing its troops from friction points, adding global support to New Delhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi�s strong message during his visit to Ladakh last week may have had some impact on Beijing agreeing to move back its army.
The MEA said it was agreed to �take guidance from the consensus of leaders� that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in border areas was essential for the further development of bilateral ties and that two sides should not allow differences to become disputes.
�Therefore, they agreed that it was necessary to ensure at the earliest complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC and de-escalation from India-China border areas for full restoration of peace and tranquillity,� it said.
�In this regard they further agreed that both sides should complete the ongoing disengagement process along the LAC expeditiously. The two sides should also ensure a phased and stepwise de-escalation in the India-China border areas,� the MEA added. � PTI