New Delhi - In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, India and China have reached an agreement on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), marking a potential end to the military standoff that began in Eastern Ladakh in 2020.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced the breakthrough during a Monday press conference, stating that Indian and Chinese negotiators had been in "close contact" through various diplomatic and military channels. The agreement specifically addresses friction points in Depsang, Demchok, and other areas where disengagement processes were already underway.
"An agreement has been reached on patrolling arrangements along the LAC in the border areas, leading to disengagement and a resolution of the issues that had arisen in these areas in 2020," Misri stated, adding that next steps would follow.
Diplomatic Efforts
Defence sources revealed that the agreement emerged from multiple layers of dialogue, including:
- Corps Commanders level talks in February
- Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination (WMCC) meetings in August
- Regular diplomatic consultations between both nations
Scope of Agreement
A high-ranking Ministry of Defence source provided additional details: "Both countries have agreed on patrolling. It is mainly for Depsang and Demchok where we have more than five patrol points, but it is not limited to these two friction points only."
Future Prospects
The implementation details are still being finalized, with further announcements expected following a potential meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the upcoming BRICS summit. Defence officials emphasized that while the agreement marks positive progress, specific modalities are still being worked out.
This development represents a potential turning point in India-China relations, possibly ending one of the longest military standoffs between the two nuclear-powered nations along their disputed border.
