India and China have reached a new agreement on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. This significant development, announced by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, comes just ahead of the BRICS Summit, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to attend. The agreement is seen as a step towards disengagement and resolving the tensions that arose following the 2020 standoff between the two nations in Ladakh.
The agreement focuses on specific areas like Depsang and Demchok, which have been longstanding points of contention. Both nations have been in continuous dialogue, involving both diplomatic and military channels, to maintain peace and tranquility along the LAC. The Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that respect for the LAC and restoring normalcy in relations are crucial for moving forward. This accord may also lay the groundwork for a potential bilateral meeting between Modi and Xi at the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia.
The agreement is a continuation of efforts to resolve the outstanding issues through a series of diplomatic engagements, as both sides agree on the need to prevent further conflicts and uphold peace.