Doklam standoff: India and China finally decide to pull troops back from the disputed area

China and India have decided to end the stand-off at the Doklam plateau. A statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs on Monday, August 28, announced that both Indian and Chinese troops are slowly being pulled out from the face-off site.

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

The move comes ahead of the Brics summit, which will be attended by leaders from five countries, including PM Narendra Modi, in the Chinese city of Xiamen in early September.

India and China have been playing a diplomatic war ever since the border incursion by China on June 16, in what's called the tri-junction area at Doklam, which is in Bhutan.  Indian soldiers crossed the Sikkim border to stop China from constructing a road on the Doklam Plateau, which is disputed territory for China and Bhutan. India has sided with Bhutan's claim.

However, China has said that it will continue patrolling the area, which continues to raise security concerns for India. People’s Daily, China’s largest newspaper group, has claimed that India has withdrawn its troops. A post by the Chinese newspaper also claims that Indian troops had illegally crossed over to Chinese territory and showed Doklam to be Chinese territory.

China, India agree to end over 2-month-long standoff in #Doklam; China confirms India has withdrawn its troops pic.twitter.com/Kwr6pFi2PN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

• Doklam Standoff
• India and China
• Pull back troops