India and China Reach Breakthrough Agreement on Border Tensions

1. On October 21 2024, India and China reached an agreement to resume patrolling at key friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

2. This came after nearly four and a half years of heightened tensions after the Galwan Valley clashes in June 2020, which marked the first fatal confrontation between the two nations since 1975.

What Was the Galwan Clash? In 2020, Indian and Chinese troops engaged in confrontations at various locations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), including: Pangong Tso Galwan Nalah Demchok in Ladakh Naku La in Sikkim (a high-altitude mountain pass) Key Incident: The most significant clash occurred on the night of June 15, 2020, in Galwan Valley, resulting in violent confrontations between Indian forces and the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Following the clash, both India and China significantly increased troop deployments in the region, along with heavy weaponry. Since the clash, multiple rounds of Corps Commander-level talks have been held to address the standoff and resolve tensions in the Eastern Ladakh area. Friction Points There are seven key friction points in Eastern Ladakh where confrontations have occurred since May 2020: PP 14 (Galwan) PP 15 (Hot Springs) PP 17A (Gogra) North and South Banks of Pangong Tso Depsang Plains (notably where Chinese troops restricted Indian access) Charding Nullah

Key Details of the Agreement

1. The Indian Foreign Secretary announced the agreement during a media briefing regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Kazan, Russia, for the 16th BRICS summit on October 22 and 23.
2. He stated, “Agreement has been arrived at on patrolling arrangements along the LAC, leading to disengagement and a resolution of the issues that had arisen in these areas in 2020.”
3. The announcement came just one day before the BRICS summit, which will also be attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
4. There are possibilities about a meeting between Modi and Xi on the sidelines, although foreign secretary did not confirm this.
5. Background of Tensions:
   1. The relationship between India and China has been tense since April-May 2020, when Chinese troops intruded into areas traditionally claimed by India.
   2. The Galwan clashes on June 14-15, 2020, triggered a significant deterioration in bilateral relations, leading to troop deployments of around 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers on both sides.
   3. Since the clashes, there have been multiple rounds of diplomatic and military talks, but these yielded little progress, with both sides revealing limited details about the discussions.

Implications of the Agreement

1. The agreement appears to be a major breakthrough, particularly if it includes contentious areas like Depsang Plains and Demchok.
2. Analysts believe that if China is accommodating in these areas, it could signify a potential resolution of territorial disputes.
3. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated, “We reached an agreement on patrolling... We can say that the disengagement process with China has been completed.” He indicated that India would be able to resume patrols similar to those conducted in 2020.
4. Questions Remain: Despite the positive developments, there are still unanswered questions regarding the nature of the patrolling arrangements and whether the agreement reverts to the pre-2020 status quo or retains newly established buffer zones at friction points.
   1. In simple words: Even with positive changes, there are still unclear aspects about the patrolling plans. It's uncertain if the agreement will go back to how things were before 2020 or keep the new buffer zones at conflict areas.
5. Future Outlook: The upcoming BRICS summit will be closely watched to see if the thawing of frosty relations can lead to meaningful discussions and easing of tensions along the border.

In conclusion, The agreement on patrolling arrangements along the LAC signifies a potentially pivotal moment in India-China relations after years of heightened tensions. As diplomatic engagements unfold at the BRICS summit, the focus will be on whether this breakthrough can facilitate a lasting resolution and foster improved bilateral ties moving forward.

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