Ahead of a crucial BRICS summit being hosted by China in September, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend, India and China have decided to withdraw troops from the Sikkim border, signaling an end to the ongoing Doklam Standoff. 

The breakthrough between the two nations was achieved through diplomatic talks, MEA said today.

Raveesh Kumar, the official spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs, tweeted the official press statement on Doklam Disengagement Understanding, that states both the countries have decided to ‘disengage’ troops.

“In recent weeks, India and China maintained diplomatic communication in respect of incident at Doklam. During these communications, we were able to express our views and convey our concerns and interests,” read the official MEA statement.

“On this basis, expeditious disengagement of border personnel at the face-off site at Doklam has been agreed to and is ongoing,” it added.

The decision to disengage their troops comes ahead of a crucial BRICS summit being hosted by China in September, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend.

In June 2017, Indian troops stopped China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) from constructing a road on the Doklam plateau, which ís a part of Bhutan. India said that constructing a road on the plateau will pose serious security concerns as it gives China access to the “Chicken’s Neck” – a narrow strip of land that links India to the seven northeast states.

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