Indian, Chinese Troops Share Diwali Sweets Amid Border Disengagement
In a significant diplomatic gesture, Indian and Chinese troops exchanged Diwali sweets along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in five locations, marking a positive step in easing tensions after recent disengagement.
This exchange occurred at Chushul Maldo and Daulat Beg Oldi in Ladakh, as well as Banchha near Kibutu, Bumla in Arunachal Pradesh, and Nathula in Sikkim.
The goodwill gesture follows last week’s disengagement agreement, which saw both countries withdraw troops and dismantle temporary military infrastructure in the Depsang plains and Demchok areas.
This agreement, reached after nearly four years of heightened tensions following the violent clashes in Galwan Valley in June 2020 that led to the loss of 20 Indian soldiers, aims to restore pre-April 2020 military positions and reduce the risk of future conflicts.
Recent satellite images confirm that both Indian and Chinese military forces have removed tents and vehicles from these buffer zones. In Demchok, temporary Chinese structures were also taken down by October 25.
Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi remarked on the importance of rebuilding trust between the two forces, emphasizing that confidence will grow as both sides continue to respect established buffer zones.
This Diwali exchange of sweets, an annual custom, takes on added significance this year as it symbolizes hope for a more stable relationship between India and China along the contested border.
