NEW DELHI: China claimed on Monday that Indian troops have been pulled out from the Border area in Doklam, after India earlier put out a statement that both countries are withdrawing their personnel.

China’s foreign ministry, in fact, went one further, saying its troops will continue to patrol the border and added that is “pleased” that Indian troops have withdrawn from Doklam, the site of the border standoff, reported AFP and Reuters.

While Xinhua, China’s official news agency, said ‘China confirms India’s withdrawal of border personnel’, People’s Daily, the mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party said ‘China and India agree to end over 2-month-long standoff in Donglang’. The latter then added ‘China confirms India has withdrawn its troops.’

Beijing’s comments came within an hour of India’s announcement that both sides have begun withdrawing troops.

“…expeditious disengagement of border personnel at the face-off site at Doklam has been agreed to and is on-going,” said a statement from India’s external affairs ministry, which termed the process the ‘Doklam Disengagement Understanding’.