India and China reach agreement on joint patrolling arrangements along LAC in Ladakh
PTC Web Desk: In a major diplomatic development, the Indian government on Monday announced that an agreement had been reached with China to resume joint patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, a move that marks a significant step towards disengagement between the two countries.
This announcement comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Russia for the 16th BRICS Summit, where discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping could be on the agenda.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri outlined that Indian and Chinese diplomatic and military representatives had been engaged in sustained negotiations over the past several weeks. "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 area, leading to disengagement and eventually a resolution of the issues that had arisen in these areas in 2020," Misri said.
Possible Modi-Xi Meeting at BRICS Summit
The possibility of a bilateral meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, which is scheduled for October 22-23, remains under consideration. Addressing queries about such a meeting, Misri commented, "We are still working around the time and engagements."
Focus on Depsang and Demchok Regions
The latest agreement focuses on the resumption of patrolling in the Depsang and Demchok areas, where tensions had been particularly high. This follows the earlier withdrawal of troops by both sides from four of six key friction points in eastern Ladakh, including the Galwan Valley. The Galwan Valley was the scene of a violent clash in June 2020, marking one of the most severe military confrontations between India and China in decades.
Progress in Disengagement Efforts
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently noted that around 75 percent of the disengagement issues along the border with China had been resolved. Last month, following a meeting between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of a BRICS security officials' gathering in St Petersburg, Russia, both nations committed to "urgency" in resolving the remaining issues and to "redouble" their efforts for complete disengagement.
During that meeting, Doval emphasised to Wang that maintaining peace and stability along the LAC was a prerequisite for restoring normal bilateral relations.
The Galwan Valley Clash
The violent clash in the Galwan Valley on June 15, 2020, resulted in the loss of 20 Indian soldiers, including a commanding officer. China, while officially acknowledging four casualties, is believed to have lost as many as 40 PLA personnel in the encounter. This confrontation was the deadliest incident between the two nations since the 1962 war, leading to a sharp downturn in diplomatic relations and altering the strategic balance between India and China.
- With inputs from agencies
