Signalling an end to the three-month Doklam standoff between India and China, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday issued two statements, with the second one saying, "expeditious disengagement of border personnel of India and China at the face-off site at Doklam was ongoing" and "has been almost completed under verification".
Prior to the second statement, there was ambiguity over the issue, as China had initially said that Indian troops had withdrawn, and asserted that Chinese forces will continue to patrol the Doklam region.
The first statement by the MEA, issued earlier on Monday, was also unclear. But the doubts were cleared when the ministry came out with the second statement later in the day.
These actions come just days before the BRICS summit to be held in China, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend.
China Global Television Network in a tweet said that “China’s defense ministry has warned India to draw lesson from the Doklam standoff after India withdraws troops, equipment from the area. (sic)”
While China has claimed in its statement that Indian troops have indeed pulled back, the MEA statement did not explicitly say if troops from both countries have withdrawn from the area.
Moreover, China remained ambiguous about the exact status of its own troops.
Asked if the Chinese statement means that China has not made any concession, officials in New Delhi said “expeditious disengagement” implies withdrawal of both parties because a unilateral withdrawal by India would not have needed or required an agreement with China.