It has been almost four-and-a-half years since Indian and Chinese troops clashed violently at Galwan Valley in Ladakh, resulting in the first fatal confrontation between the two countries along their disputed border since 1975. However, the India-China standoff in the Himalayas seems to be coming to an end.
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced that an agreement has been reached on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the India-China border areas, leading to disengagement and resolution of the issues that arose in 2020. This announcement coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Kazan, Russia for the BRICS summit on October 22 and 23.
The timing of this announcement is significant, coming right before the Indian prime minister’s departure for Russia to attend the BRICS meeting, where he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping among others.
While Misri did not confirm a meeting between Modi and Xi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, he did not rule out the possibility either. It is likely that a Modi-Xi handshake or even a meeting will take place at the summit.
The relations between India and China have been strained in recent years, especially after the clashes at Galwan Valley in 2020. However, with multiple rounds of meetings between the two countries’ representatives, an agreement has now been reached.
Details of the agreement have not been fully disclosed and it remains to be seen if the resolution covers all friction points, including Depsang Plains and Demchok. This development could potentially lead to a resolution of the Sino-India territorial dispute in eastern Ladakh.
All eyes will now be on Kazan to see if the frosty relations between India and China will thaw with a warm handshake and meaningful talks, leading to an easing of tensions along their border.