India And China Reach LAC Patrolling Deal Ahead Of Possible Modi-Xi Talks At BRICS Summit — Here's What It Means

After four and a half years of standoff between India and China, New Delhi and Beijing have agreed to disengage at the border, where 50,000 to 60,000 troops are stationed on both sides, according to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday.

Misri explained that Indian and Chinese diplomatic and military negotiators have been in close contact through various forums, stating, "As a result of these discussions, an agreement has been arrived at on patrolling arrangements along LAC in the border areas, leading to disengagement and resolution of the issues that arose in these areas in 2020"

Reports indicate that under the new agreement, Indian troops may regain access to certain patrolling points along the LAC that were previously blocked by Chinese troops or restricted due to the establishment of buffer zones during disengagement at specific friction points, such as the north bank of Pangong Lake.

The announcement comes ahead of a possible meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, which both leaders will attend in Russia later this week.

When asked about the potential bilateral meeting between Xi and Modi, Misri stated, “In recent weeks, diplomatic and military discussions between India and China have been ongoing. We are still coordinating the timing and details for any bilateral engagements.”

This development follows last month’s statement by the Chinese Defence Ministry that China and India were able to “reduce differences” and build “some consensus” on disengaging troops from friction points in Eastern Ladakh, with both sides agreeing to maintain dialogue to reach a mutually acceptable resolution at an “early date.”

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had informed the army top brass earlier this month that the government was “cautiously optimistic” about progress in India-China talks to resolve the border standoff, though he asked them to remain prepared for contingencies.

In September, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that about 75 per cent of the disengagement issues with China had been “sorted out.” This marked the first time Jaishankar quantified the progress after four years of negotiations. He also added that India "can look at other possibilities" once the border crisis is fully resolved.

Around the same time, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Russia. The Ministry of External Affairs noted that the meeting allowed both sides to review efforts for an early resolution of remaining issues along the LAC.

In India, Union Minister Rammohan Naidu met with a Chinese delegation to discuss resuming direct flights between the two countries after a four-year hiatus.

Other signs of improvement in ties have surfaced in recent weeks, with India approving some investment proposals from Chinese companies that had been on hold for years.

India has made it clear that the normalisation of the border situation is a prerequisite for progress in other areas of the India-China relationship, including business.