Latest satellite images show China’s partial pullback in Finger 4 area of Pangong Tso
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 along Pangong Lake in Ladakh.
NEW DELHI: 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.
The images show:
PLA has commenced a partial withdrawal from the Finger 4 area.
Images captured by commercial earth observation satellite SkySat on Friday, confirm a pullback by the Chinese troops from the road-level areas.
Bivouacs and tents are not removed from Finger 4 ridge top.
Partial movement off the Finger 4 ridge, no signs of tentage and equipment from the shore area.
Satellite image from July 10 show camp sites removed from certain location and still can seen still.
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. [India Today]