
India, China to pull back troops from border confrontation
NEW DELHI — India and China have agreed to pull back their troops from a face-off in the high Himalayas where China, India and Bhutan meet, signalling a thaw in the monthslong standoff, India’s government said Monday.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said India and China had diplomatic exchanges in recent weeks over the situation on Doklam plateau in the eastern Himalayas and both had agreed to “go back to the status quo” before the standoff.
Both India and China said their troops would continue to patrol in the Doklam area as they did before the face-off.
The breakthrough comes just days before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to travel to China for a meeting of BRICS leaders next month. The BRICS grouping comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.