In a significant development, India and China have agreed to work urgently towards the withdrawal of tens of thousands of troops stationed along their disputed border, aiming to resolve a long-standing military standoff.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings in Laos.
The two foreign ministers emphasized the need for an early resolution of issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the long Himalayan border separating Chinese and Indian-held territories from Ladakh in the west to Arunachal Pradesh in the east, which China claims in its entirety.
The relationship between the two countries has been strained since a deadly military clash in July 2020 that resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers, leading to a prolonged standoff with both sides deploying thousands of troops, artillery, tanks, and fighter jets in the rugged mountainous region.
Despite partial troop withdrawals from areas like Pangong Tso, Gogra, and Galwan Valley, both nations maintain a significant military presence. According to an Indian statement, Jaishankar and Wang “agreed on the need to work with purpose and urgency to achieve complete disengagement at the earliest,” noting that peace on the border is crucial for normalizing bilateral relations.
Jaishankar acknowledged that border issues have overshadowed India-China ties for the past four years and stated that the state of the border will inevitably reflect on the state of their overall relationship. Wang underscored the mutual benefits of improved China-India ties and the positive impact on other nations, according to the media reports. The two sides committed to maintaining peace in border areas and progressing towards complete disengagement.
The Line of Actual Control, which divides the areas of physical control rather than territorial claims, remains a contentious issue. Top military commanders from both countries have held multiple rounds of talks to discuss troop disengagement from tension points along the border.
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