India-China agree to resume patrolling along LAC, leading to disengagement in Ladakh

New Delhi: In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, the Indian government announced on Monday that an agreement has been reached with China to resume joint patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. This agreement marks a major step toward disengagement in the region, where tensions have persisted since the violent clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020.

Discussions lead to breakthrough

According to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, the agreement comes after several weeks of intense diplomatic and military-level discussions between the two nations. “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, and this is leading to disengagement and eventually a resolution of the issues that had arisen in these areas in 2020,” Misri said.

The announcement came on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia for the 16th BRICS Summit, where global diplomatic discussions, including those related to the India-China border situation, are expected to take place.

Ongoing coordination for bilateral meetings

When asked whether there would be a potential bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the summit, Misri confirmed that discussions between India and China have been ongoing in recent weeks. However, he stated, “We are still coordinating the timing and details for any bilateral engagements.”

Tensions since Galwan valley clash

The situation along the LAC has been tense since June 2020, when Indian and Chinese troops engaged in a violent confrontation in the Galwan Valley, resulting in casualties on both sides. The latest agreement is seen as a positive step toward resolving these long-standing tensions and restoring stability in the region.