India and China have reached a significant breakthrough in their four-year-long standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) by agreeing on the disengagement and resume border patrolling. The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday, announced that both nations have come to a consensus on conducting patrols in the region. This development could pave the way for further disengagement efforts, signalling a positive step toward easing tensions in the area.
This significant development comes just ahead of the 16th BRICS Summit, scheduled for October 22-23. Prime Narendra Modi will participate in the summit in Kazan, Russia.
“I can share with you that over the last several weeks Indian and Chinese diplomatic and military negotiators have been in close contact with each other. As a result of these discussions, an agreement has been arrived at on patrolling arrangements along LAC in the border areas, leading to disengagement and resolution of the issues that arose in these areas in 2020,” Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told reporters.
When asked about a potential bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, the official stated, “In recent weeks, diplomatic and military discussions between India and China have been ongoing. We are still coordinating the timing and details for any bilateral engagements.” He was briefing the media ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia for the BRICS summit.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told army top brass last week, he is ‘cautiously optimistic’ about progress in India-China talks to resolve the border standoff asking them to be ready for contingencies nevertheless.
Recently, China has been signalling a desire to lower tensions in its rhetoric regarding India. A brief review of recent statements by China’s Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, suggests Beijing is looking for a fresh start in bilateral relations. On September 25, during a meeting with Gouranglal Das, Joint Secretary for East Asia in the Ministry of External Affairs, the ambassador remarked, “Since the beginning of this year, China-India relations have experienced a momentum of improvement and development.” He highlighted that the two countries have maintained dialogues on border issues through both diplomatic and military channels. These statements reflect a potential for cooperation moving forward.
“China would like to work with India to help each other succeed on the way to modernization, achieve common development and revitalisation, and join hands to build a community with a shared future for mankind,” said Xu Feihong.
India and China have been engaged in a tense border standoff in eastern Ladakh since the Galwan Valley clash in 2020, which was the most severe confrontation in four decades, resulting in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and an undisclosed number of Chinese troops. Recent developments have included discussions on potential solutions that consider both sides’ positions prior to April 2020, as well as addressing existing issues in Arunachal Pradesh. This decision is expected to restore access to certain patrolling points for Indian troops that had previously been restricted due to the ongoing dispute.
Team BharatShakti
