India-China Border Patrolling Resumes, Signaling Progress Toward De-Escalation
In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, India and China have agreed to resume joint patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), particularly in the contentious regions of Depsang Plains and Demchok.
This development, after years of heightened tensions since the 2020 standoff, marks a step forward in de-escalating the border conflict, though a complete withdrawal of troops is not expected immediately.
Initial Steps Toward De-Escalation
The resumption of patrolling does not yet signal full disengagement but is considered a crucial preliminary move toward broader de-escalation efforts. Sources in the defence establishment clarified that while patrolling is set to resume in key areas, it will likely pause during the winter months as part of routine seasonal withdrawals. Discussions on resolving the border dispute are expected to continue during this time, with a focus on contentious regions along the LAC.
Focus on Depsang Plains and Demchok
One of the focal points in the ongoing negotiations is the Depsang Plains, where Chinese forces had previously blocked Indian patrols at a strategic bottleneck. According to sources, Chinese troops will now return to their earlier positions, enabling Indian patrols to resume without obstruction, indicating progress in addressing this long-standing issue.
However, the situation in Demchok remains less clear. While the resumption of patrolling has been announced, it is still uncertain whether Indian troops will regain full access to the Charding La pass, an area of contention since 2020. A positive sign emerged with reports of a Chinese tent, set up during the standoff, being dismantled, hinting at potential further de-escalation.
Progress in Other Areas
Patrolling is expected to resume in areas where disengagement had already occurred, such as Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, and Gogra. Both nations will continue patrolling up to their respective “agreed perceived LAC,” where they follow different interpretations of the border.
This agreement comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kazan for the BRICS Summit, where diplomatic and military negotiations between India and China are likely to continue, further working towards the resolution of issues that arose in the 2020 standoff.
