1. Important - The Chinese have started withdrawing from the Galwan Valley. Its critical to assess this closely, particularly at a time there is a glaring trust deficit between both sides.
2. Sources indicate that the Chinese have begun removing the structures that they had constructed at the embankment on the river-bend that they were illegally occupying. They had made a 423 metre incursion here.
3. The extent of the Chinese withdrawal is at least 1 kilometer. We have also withdrawn - the area in between is being referred to as a buffer zone.
4. A valid question would be - why are we withdrawing in our own territory - and the answer is this - this is a confidence building measure and does not mean we are giving up our claims in this area. The long-term outcome of India's mutual withdrawal will need to be assessed.
5. The process of mutual withdrawal began in the last 24 hours.
6. Important to note that the Galwan River has been in spate. And satellite images of June 26 showed the Chinese shifting the positions of their camps along the course of the river. I don't want to refer to our positions.
7. Only time will tell if this is a genuine Chinese disengagement or one where they are temporarily dodging the flow of the Galwan River along the narrow Galwan valley.
8. Nonetheless, a positive development that needs to be replicated elsewhere.
9. One more critical detail about Galwan ... There are several Chinese camps within 6 kms of the LAC - this is their territory. The Chinese can surge their soldiers forward from these camps in huge numbers along the track/road they have built right upto the LAC.
