India and China begin verification patrolling in Ladakh’s Demchok and Depsang
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In a significant diplomatic development, India and China have initiated verification patrolling in the contentious regions of Demchok and Depsang in eastern Ladakh, following a recent agreement aimed at de-escalating border tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The Ministry of External Affairs announced that this progress follows a landmark agreement reached on October 21, 2024, effectively concluding a standoff that had strained relations between the two countries for over four years.
Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that the verification phase has begun in these areas under mutually agreed terms, setting the groundwork for coordinated patrolling once the disengagement process is fully finalized. This move reflects a positive shift towards stabilizing the situation along the LAC.
The agreement comes on the heels of a historic meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia - their first bilateral engagement in five years.
According to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, the accord was the outcome of intensive discussions with Chinese officials across diplomatic and military channels, aiming to resolve issues dating back to 2020.
Misri emphasized that the recent dialogue involved military commanders and focused on resolving stand-offs at various points along the LAC. He specifically recalled the June 2020 Galwan Valley clash, which led to casualties on both sides and marked one of the most severe confrontations between the two nations in recent history.
The current disengagement initiative is viewed as a critical step toward restoring the pre-2020 status quo and repairing bilateral relations. Both India and China stressed the importance of maintaining peace along the border and agreed that mutual respect and trust should be the cornerstones of their relationship.
PM Modi reiterated that normalizing border conditions is essential to improving overall ties between the two nations.
With verification patrolling underway, both countries are optimistic about achieving a stable and peaceful resolution to the issues that have plagued the LAC since 2020.