Thaw in Doklam standoff: India-China agree to disengage, mutually backoff from border

India and China have agreed to disengage on the issue of Doklam border dispute, an MEA announcement said  on Monday. 

Ministry of External Affairs on Monday said that there was a continuous channel of communication between two neighbouring Asain giants, which made the mutual agreement possible. 

"In recent weeks, India and China have maintained diplomatic communication in respect of the incident at Doklam. During these communications, we were able to express our views and convey our concerns and interests. 

"On this basis, expeditious disengagement of border personnel at the face-off site at Doklam has been agreed to and is on-going," the official statement said.  

Here are the live updates: 

#UPDATE: India has pulled back all border personnel and equipment from the border standoff site at Doklam as of Monday afternoon: Chinese FM pic.twitter.com/nTbHO6cu9y

— People's Daily,China (@PDChina) August 28, 2017

#China foreign ministry says Indian forces have already withdrawn to the Indian side of border: Reuters

#China foreign ministry says Chinese forces will continue to patrol in Doklam region: Reuters

MEA Press Statement on Doklam Disengagement Understanding pic.twitter.com/fVo4N0eaf8

— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) August 28, 2017

# Chinese media also confirm end of standoff

Chinese media houses namely Global Times and People's Daily China have confirmed the news from Chinese end. 

"China, India agree to end over 2-month-long standoff in Doklam; China confirms India has withdrawn its troops," said PD China. 

#BREAKING Chinese FM confirms that #India has withdrawn all its trespassing troops to Indian side of the border in #Doklam on Aug 28 pic.twitter.com/L35eAXNKEY

— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) August 28, 2017

China, India agree to end over 2-month-long standoff in #Doklam; China confirms India has withdrawn its troops pic.twitter.com/Kwr6pFi2PN

— People's Daily,China (@PDChina) August 28, 2017

Tensions ease days before PM Modi's China visit

The agreement can be hailed as a major victory for India as it had maintained that the two nations must withdraw forces from the border simultaneously as opposed to China's demand of India's withdrawal first. 

The decision comes days before Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi is due to visit southeastern coastal city Xiamen for the BRICS summit next week.

PM Modi will be in China between September 3-5 for BRICS summit. 

After the latest development, it is possible that PM and his counterpart  will be able to hold Chinese President Xi Jinping will be able to hold talks with broader agendas, including India's membership to Nuclear Supplier's Group. 

According to ministry sources, the communication between two nations were going on for several weeks. 

Also read: HM Rajnath Singh confident China will take 'positive steps' to resolve crisis

The India-China standoff

India and China have been locked in a face-off in the Doklam area of the Sikkim sector after Indian troops stopped the Chinese Army from building a road in the area.  

China claimed it was constructing the road within their territory and has been demanding immediate pull-out of the Indian troops from the disputed Doklam plateau. 

Bhutan says Doklam belongs to it but China claims it to be its territory.  China has been ramping up rhetoric against India over the last few weeks demanding immediate withdrawal of Indian troops from Doklam. 

The Chinese state media, particularly, have carried a barrage of critical articles on the Dokalam stand-off slamming India.

Also read: US encourages India, China to resolve issue via direct dialogue