The Indian and Chinese armies have disengaged at designated points along the two countries’ disputed border, Indian media reported on Wednesday, citing army sources. The move comes after an agreement was reached earlier this month at military and diplomatic levels.
The two sides are also expected to exchange sweets as a symbolic gesture on Thursday, when India celebrates the major Hindu festival of Diwali, the reports added. An army source told the media that it would be a “big win” from both military and diplomatic perspectives.
Discussions are now underway between ground commanders to finalize arrangements for patrolling the disputed border, which is expected to commence shortly. The patrolling agreement will allow Indian Army troops to access five key patrolling points where the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China had established temporary encampments.
The recent disengagement specifically applies to the Depsang and Demchok areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) – the 3,500-kilometer (approximately 2,100-mile) frontier between the two countries. The two armies clashed in the area in 2020, resulting in the deaths of 20 Indian and at least four Chinese soldiers. Since then, the two countries have held over 30 rounds of talks aimed at de-escalation; however, a breakthrough was achieved only this month.
New Delhi and Beijing announced an agreement on de-escalation on the eve of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, where leaders Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping held their first bilateral meeting in nearly five years. Both sides now aim to return to their positions at the disputed border that were established before the April 2020 clash. According to the media, discussions will continue at the local command level regarding other standoff points along the LAC.
During their meeting in Kazan, the Indian and Chinese leaders welcomed the agreement for complete disengagement and the resolution of issues. Modi underscored the importance of “properly handling differences and disputes and not allowing them to disturb peace and tranquility,” while Xi emphasized that the two sides should strengthen communication and cooperation, as well as properly manage differences and disagreements. He stated that both nations should “continue to uphold their important understandings,” asserting that “China and India are each other’s development opportunities rather than threats, and cooperative partners rather than competitors.”
Xu Feihong, China’s ambassador to India, said on Wednesday that he hoped that following the disengagement, “relations will move forward smoothly in the future and not be restricted or interrupted by specific disagreements between the two sides,” according to the PTI news agency.