LADAKH, 11 February, 2021 (TON): India and China agreed on disengaging troops from north and south of the Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh, Rajnath Singh the Defense Minister told Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

The Defense Minister said, "The sustained talks with China have led to the agreement on the disengagement on the north and south banks of Pangong Lake. After the agreement, India-China will remove forward deployments in a phased and coordinated manner."

"China will keep its troops to the east of the Finger 8 in the north of Pangong Lake. India will keep its troops at its permanent base near Finger 3," said Rajnath Singh.

"China has built up a heavy force with arms and ammunition on their side at several spots near the LAC in eastern Ladakh. Our forces have also adequate and effectively done counter deployment," said the Defense Minister.

"We are committed to maintaining a peaceful situation at the Line of Actual Control. India has always emphasized maintaining bilateral ties," said Rajnath Singh

Forces will return to the command post, he said and added, "Not an inch of land will be given and nothing has been lost since the faceoff".

The Defence Minister said the security forces have proved that they are ready to face any challenge to protect the sovereignty of the country and the nation will always remember the supreme sacrifice of the soldiers.

He said, "The country stands united when it comes to the national security whichever party you belong."

Pangong Tso is in the disputed territory while the Line of Actual Control passes through the lake. A section of the lake approximately 20 km east from the LAC is controlled by China but claimed by India. The eastern end of the lake is in Tibet.

After the mid-19th century, Pangong Tso was at the southern end of the Johnson Line, an early attempt at demarcation between India and China in the Aksai Chin region. On 29 and 30 August 2020, Indian troops had occupied many heights on the south bank of Pangong Tso.