Depsang ‘settled’, patrolling to ‘agreed perceived LAC’: What India & China have agreed on

Despite recent developments, an immediate withdrawal of troops stationed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) remains unlikely, sources say. These discussions, however, are paving the way for a potential meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the BRICS summit in Russia later this week. Confidence-building measures will persist, with monthly dialogues to be held between commanding officers from both nations.

The groundwork laid here could culminate in a broader bilateral meeting between Modi and Xi at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, this week. “The final decision on proper disengagement and de-escalation will hinge on the outcomes of the anticipated Modi-Xi meeting. But this is a crucial step toward further normalization,” a source noted.

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Key issues surrounding the Depsang Plains have reportedly been resolved, with Chinese troops agreeing to pull back to earlier positions. Indian troops will no longer face obstruction at the bottleneck area, a strategic point blocked by China since 2020. Defensive camps set up after 2020 in this zone are also set to be dismantled. Prior to 2020, Chinese forces had been preventing Indian patrols from accessing the “Y junction,” situated ahead of the bottleneck.

On the situation in Demchok, a long-contested region, sources indicated that the Ministry of External Affairs had confirmed the resumption of patrols in all zones. However, it remains unclear whether Indian forces will return to patrolling the Charding La pass as they did prior to 2020. Additionally, a tent erected by Chinese forces after the 2020 standoff has reportedly been removed.

At other disengaged sites, such as the northern banks of Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Hot Springs, and Gogra, both sides will resume patrolling—though only up to the “agreed perceived LAC.” The “agreed perceived LAC” refers to a mutually understood demarcation, although both sides maintain differing interpretations of the boundary. Patrolling will stop roughly 200 to 300 meters short of this notional line, sources confirmed.

Years of diplomatic and military negotiations culminated in Monday’s announcement. Four and a half years after tensions along the border surged in May 2020, India declared it had reached an accord with China on disengagement and the resumption of patrolling. “In recent weeks, Indian and Chinese diplomats and military officials have been in continuous dialogue across multiple forums. As a result, we have agreed on a patrolling arrangement along the LAC, leading to disengagement and the resolution of the issues that arose in 2020,” said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, speaking ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s upcoming BRICS trip.

Asked for further clarification, Misri reaffirmed, “We’ve reached an understanding on the matters under discussion.” His comments followed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s remarks on October 11, in which he stated that India remains “cautiously optimistic” about resolving the border tensions with China.

India and China’s recent agreement involves a return to patrolling up to the “agreed perceived LAC,” including in critical areas like the Depsang Plains and Demchok. Immediate troop withdrawals remain unlikely, except for those normally pulled back in the winter months. Patrolling will resume but will halt again as winter approaches, as per the usual practice of recent years. During this period, further discussions on complete disengagement will continue.

New protocols have been established for the resumed patrols. As per the agreement, patrolling will be reinstated in all areas that were patrolled before 2020, including the stretch from PP10 to PP13 in the Depsang Plains. Patrols will take place twice a month, with a designated force of 15 personnel per patrol to minimize the risk of confrontations. Both sides will coordinate their patrols along the LAC in advance to avoid potential clashes.

published by dailybharat