In recent weeks, diplomats and military intermediaries from India and China have engaged in discussions across various forums. As a result of these talks, both countries have reached an agreement regarding patrols along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and other issues that have caused disputes since 2020.
India and China have been experiencing prolonged tensions over disputed territories in the border area. However, this dispute has now come to an end, as confirmed by the foreign ministries of both countries.
On Tuesday, Indian media outlet The Hindu and news agency AFP reported this information.New Delhi stated that the deadlock regarding “patrol arrangements” and the deployment of troops in areas related to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has been resolved.
Officials have described this development as “unprecedented,” noting that the initiative has resolved longstanding disputes in the Demchok and Depsang regions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently attending the BRICS Summit in Russia. During a media briefing surrounding his visit, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced this resolution. Notably, Chinese President Xi Jinping is also participating in the summit.
Misri stated, “In recent weeks, diplomats and military intermediaries from India and China have engaged in discussions across various forums. These discussions have led to an agreement between both nations on patrol arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and other contentious issues that have persisted since 2020.”
He further mentioned that both countries will now move forward with “the next steps.”
A few hours later, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the significance of the agreement, noting that patrol activities at the border will resume in the manner they were conducted before 2020.
The Ministry of External Affairs has not provided detailed information regarding the specifics of the agreement. It remains unclear whether the buffer zones will continue to exist as part of the patrol arrangements.
In an interview with NDTV, Jaishankar remarked, “We have now returned to the situation that existed in 2020. This means that the border disputes with China have been resolved.”
Previously, the Indian government had stated that normalcy along the LAC would only return when China withdrew its troops. In response to Chinese military deployments, India had also stationed troops in those regions.
Source: Ittefaq
