India, China Agree To End Doklam Standoff Ahead BRICS Summit

Doklam standoff between India and China has reached end as both sides have agreed to expeditious disengagement of troops from the disputed border area in the wake of a summit of the BRICS nations.

The summit of the BRICS grouping includes Brazil, Russia and South Africa - in China next month, which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend, various media reported Monday.

Indian and Chinese troops have been confronting each other at the Doklam plateau near the borders of India, its ally Bhutan and China.

The Indian ministry said the two sides had agreed to  defuse the the standoff crisis in along their disputed Himalayan border.

China said Indian troops had withdrawn from the remote area in the eastern Himalayas. However, Chinese troops would continue to patrol the Doklam region, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.

“China will continue to exercise sovereignty rights to protect territorial sovereignty in accordance with the rules of the historical boundary,” she said.

India and China have been unable to settle their 3,500-km (2,175-mile) frontier and large parts of territory are claimed by both sides.

“China hopes India respects the historical boundary and works with China to protect peace along the border on the basis of mutual respect of each other’s sovereignty,” Hua added.

The disturbance started in June when India sent troops to stop China building a road in the Doklam area, which is remote. The uninhabited territory is claimed by both China and Bhutan.

India sent its troops believing that Chinese military activity there was a threat to the security of its own northeast region.