'Buffer' zone along the Line of Actual Control

Context:

• Indian and Chinese troops disengaged from Patrolling Point (PP) 17A near Gogra Post. However, the details of a temporary no-patrol zone differs from location to location.

What is a no-patrolling zone?

• When two forces disengage from a face-off point where they had been in close proximity to each other, one way to prevent new face-offs is to create a zone in which troops from neither side are allowed for a certain length of time.
• It is an area or a zone where neither side is allowed to patrol
• Between India and China, the idea of the no-patrolling zone can be traced back to the border war of 1962.
• Recently, the concept was used by India in 2013. When Chinese troops had pitched tents in an area known as the Bottleneck in the Depsang Plains, and India was negotiating to end the face-off.

Why is patrolling important?

• In the case of an undecided boundary like the one between India and China, forces patrol the region to assert their control over the territory.
• The patrolling points for India are decided by a body known as the China Study Group (CSG), a secretary-level official group that is the sole adviser to the central government on matters related to China.

Is the suspension of patrolling permanent?

• Suspension of patrolling is not permanent, and India has not given up its right to patrol those
• However, patrolling from both sides has been suspended till the standoff throughout eastern Ladakh is resolved. This means not only disengaging from the friction points, but also de-escalation.
  • De-escalation means both sides will pull back the additional troops that have been stationed in the region since last year.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/india-china-disengagement-gogra-post-explained-7443788/