Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said India and China have a new patrolling arrangement along the Line of Actual Control in the Himalayas, which can help achieve disengagement and resolve tensions brought about by skirmishes that started last May.
The breakthrough comes just weeks ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia for the BRICS summit. News agency PTI, quoting Indian sources, reported that the deal specifically concerns patrolling in the Depsang and Demchok regions.
Although not officially declared, the coming summit, which will be held in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is expected to have a bilateral meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The last working mechanism meeting for consultation and coordination on India-China border affairs was held on August 29 in Beijing. Both sides had a frank and constructive dialogue on the LAC, during which they looked to narrow differences and expedite the resolution of outstanding issues.
Restoration of peace and tranquility and respect for the LAC have been mentioned as a prerequisite for normalizing bilateral relations. Indian and Chinese military commanders have been holding regular meetings to achieve complete disengagement in the remaining areas along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, an action considered highly necessary for restorative tranquility along the border.
Of course, there are still some areas where de-escalation needs to be done. After the disengagement of troops from Gogra-Hot Springs in September 2022, Chinese forces in the region returned to their positions before 2020. However, the Chinese soldiers still occupy parts of Indian territory in the Depsang plains.
The confrontation peaked when both sides clashed fiercely in Galwan Valley in June 2020. The clashes left 20 Indian soldiers dead, while more than 40 Chinese were either killed or injured.
