India-China To Disengage On Ladakh Border As Patrolling Arrangements For LAC Decided: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri

Four and a half years after the standoff between India and China, both nations have reached an agreement on disengagement along their shared border, where 50,000 to 60,000 troops have been stationed on each side, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Monday (21 October).

Misri noted that Indian and Chinese diplomatic and military representatives have been in close communication across various platforms. As a result, both sides have agreed on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the border areas.

This will lead to disengagement and the resolution of issues that arose in 2020. He added as per Indian Express, "We will now proceed with the next steps." This comes after China's Defence Ministry's claim of reduced differences last month.

China said that the two countries reached "some consensus" on withdrawing troops from friction points in Eastern Ladakh, signaling progress in ending the standoff. The Ministry also confirmed ongoing dialogue aimed at finding an acceptable resolution for both countries.

This announcement followed a meeting between Li Jinsong, Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs of China's Foreign Ministry, and Indian Ambassador to China Pradeep Kumar Rawat.

A significant progress had been made in narrowing differences on unresolved issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh. Discussions reportedly included exploring potential solutions based on pre-April 2020 positions while also addressing issues in Arunachal Pradesh.

Sources indicated that Indian troops, whose access to certain patrolling points had been blocked by Chinese forces or buffer zones created during disengagement at friction points, may soon regain access to these areas.

However, troops on both sides remain on high alert, though they are taking steps to avoid confrontations that could damage trust and delay redeployment. Local commanders from both sides have been meeting as part of confidence-building efforts to prevent clashes.

While some friction points, including the Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso, and Gogra-Hot Springs, have seen progress through the establishment of buffer zones, legacy issues persist in areas like Depsang Plains and Demchok. Indian troops at Depsang Plains have been prevented from accessing patrol points.

On 12 September, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar stated that around 75 per cent of the disengagement issues with China had been resolved, but the "bigger issue" remained the growing militarisation of the border.

Following this, China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that troops had disengaged in four locations in Eastern Ladakh, including the Galwan Valley, and that the border situation is stable.