Rama Krishna Sangem
Over four years after the Galwan clash on the Ladakh border, India and China reached a deal on patrolling by security forces. This may be a small, but significant step towards restoration of normalcy on this crucial India-China border which remained tense since June 2020.
India and China have reached an agreement on patrolling activities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced on October 21, Monday. Misri revealed that both Indian and Chinese negotiators had been in communication over the past few weeks to resolve outstanding issues.
The agreement involves patrolling arrangements in the Depsang and Demchok areas, according to news agency PTI.
“Indian and Chinese negotiators have been in regular contact over the past few weeks,” Misri stated during a special briefing a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Kazan, Russia, to participate in the BRICS Summit.
Next steps follow
Misri added that New Delhi and Beijing have arrived at an agreement on patrolling arrangements along the LAC, which will lead to disengagement. He went on to say, “We will be taking the next steps on this.”
Misri said, “We have been in discussion with Chinese interlocutors through the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC), as was mentioned earlier, and at the military level, as well (as) through meetings of the military commanders at various levels. These discussions have in the past resulted in the resolution of standoffs at various locations. You are also aware that there were a few locations where the standoff had not been resolved.”
Now, as a result of the discussions that have taken place over the last several weeks, an agreement has been arrived at on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China border areas, and this is leading to disengagement and, eventually, a resolution of the issues that had arisen in these areas in 2020,” added Misri.
While no official confirmation has been provided, PTI reported that there is speculation that PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping could hold a bilateral discussion on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.
In a previous meeting held in August, India and China had reportedly discussed maintaining peace and stability along the LAC. Both sides had also agreed to intensify contact via both diplomatic and military channels to resolve the lingering disputes.
Positive for many things
This agreement has some positive significance: Now India and China can talk at higher levels, may be the ministerial or even higher levels – PM Modi and President Xi. Also this will ease tensions and restrictions on bilateral trade, especially in the fields of high tech, pharma, critical mineral etc. However, we are not sure if PM Modi and president Xi will have direct talks on the sidelines of SCO summit at Kazan next couple of days.
