India, China Disengage Troops, Agree to Resume Patrolling Along LAC After 4 Years

New Delhi, India — India announced on Monday that it has reached a crucial agreement with China on patrolling arrangements along Line of Actual Control (LAC), marking a breakthrough in four-year-old military standoff. This agreement raises prospect of a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during upcoming BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia.  

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri provided details of agreement, emphasizing that disengagement process with China has been completed, effectively restoring situation to what it was before tensions in 2020. "As a result of se discussions, an agreement has been arrived at on patrolling arrangements along Line of Actual Control in India-China border areas, leing to disengagement and a resolution of issues that h arisen in se areas in 2020," Misri said.  

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also highlighted significance of this development, stating, “We have gone back to where situation was in 2020, and... disengagement process with China, you can say, has been completed.”  

COAS General Upendra Dwivedi on LAC Developments  

ding to discourse, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi shared Indian Army's strategic perspective on recent agreement. Speaking on disengagement process, Gen Dwivedi stated, “We want to go back to status quo of April 2020. reafter, we will be looking at disengagement, de-escalation, and normal management of Line of Actual Control (LAC).”  

General Dwivedi also underscored importance of restoring trust between two sides. “As of now, we are trying to restore trust. How trust will be restored? It will get restored once we are able to see each or. Patrolling gives you that kind of vantage," he remarked, emphasizing that trust-building will be crucial for success of disengagement and eventual de-escalation.  

COAS also pointed out that process involves several phases and will not stop at immediate resolution. “re are phases in that... We are trying to restore trust, and as we restore trust, or stages will also follow soon.”

military's approach to restoring normalcy along LAC remains consistent with its long-standing strategy. "It has been our stance from April 2020, when General Joshi was Army Commander, and even today, that remains same," said Gen Dwivedi, indicating that military has been pursuing same objective since onset of tensions.  

General Dwivedi emphasized that both sides need to reassure each or to prevent creeping encroachments, particularly in buffer zones. “ buffer zones which have been created... We are not creeping, and both have to reassure each or. Patrolling gives you that kind of vantage," he said, ding that military sees this as a vital part of restoring trust between two sides.  

Path to Normalcy  

latest agreement signals a significant step forward in restoring peace along LAC, with both military and diplomatic efforts working in tandem. Jaishankar remarked that agreement on “observing sanctity of LAC” lays foundation for a return to peace and tranquillity that existed before 2020 confrontation. He pointed out that both sides will now resume patrolling activities as y did before standoff began.  

Jaishankar also reflected on long diplomatic process behind agreement. “At various points in time, people almost gave up. We have always maintained that, on one hand, we h to obviously do counter-deployments, but side by side, we have been negotiating,” he said, referring to ongoing negotiations that began after a tense meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Moscow in September 2020.

General Dwivedi echoed this sentiment from a military standpoint, reiterating that patrolling will play a pivotal role in rebuilding trust and ensuring a phased disengagement process. As both sides move forward, he suggested that diplomatic and military cooperation will continue to drive progress.  

Prospects of Modi-Xi Meeting at BRICS Summit  

breakthrough also raises likelihood of a high-level meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi during BRICS Summit in Russia. While re has been no official confirmation of a bilateral meeting, sources familiar with matter have indicated that latest agreement could set stage for furr discussions between two leers.  

Modi and Xi last met on sidelines of G20 Summit in Indonesia in November 2022, and a potential meeting in Kazan would present an opportunity to reinforce diplomatic ties, particularly in wake of successful disengagement process at LAC.  

Background of LAC Standoff  

LAC standoff began in May 2020 when Indian and Chinese troops clashed on banks of Pangong Lake, escalating into a violent confrontation in Galwan Valley in June 2020. clash resulted in deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops— first fatalities on LAC in 45 years. conflict plunged India-China relations to ir lowest point since 1962 border war, prompting military deployments and diplomatic efforts to ease tensions.

Over past four years, both sides have engaged in several rounds of diplomatic talks, facilitated by Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China Border Affairs, which includes senior military commanders and diplomats. se discussions led to withdrawal of frontline troops from key friction points, including Pangong Lake, Gogra, and Hot Springs. However, two critical areas—Depsang and Demchok—remained unresolved until recent breakthrough.