India and China Agree to De-escalate Border Tensions with New Patrolling Arrangements

India and China have reached an agreement on new patrolling arrangements to ease tensions along their disputed Himalayan border, according to India’s top diplomat, Vikram Misri. On Monday, Misri announced that both countries have decided on “disengagement and resolution of issues in these [border] areas that emerged in 2020,” referring to the Galwan Valley clashes where both sides suffered casualties — the first fatal encounter between the two nations since 1975.

Since the Galwan clashes, relations between India and China have remained tense. Misri stated, “An agreement has been reached on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the India-China border areas, which will lead to disengagement and resolution of the issues that arose in these areas in 2020.” However, he did not provide specific details about the disengagement process or whether it would address all points of conflict along the disputed border.

Misri’s comments come just before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend a BRICS meeting in Russia, with other members including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. There is no confirmation yet on whether Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the event.

The Galwan Valley clashes, where troops used clubs and sticks due to a 1996 agreement that bans the use of guns and explosives near the border, marked a significant escalation between the two nations. Despite several rounds of diplomatic and military talks since then, no major breakthroughs had been achieved until this recent agreement.

Border disputes between India and China have affected their relationship for decades, with tensions often flaring up due to the undefined 3,440 km (2,100-mile) boundary. The two nations fought a war in 1962, resulting in a heavy defeat for India. Frequent confrontations have occurred due to the shifting nature of the border, marked by rivers, lakes, and snowy peaks. Both nations have also intensified infrastructure development along the border, adding to the tensions.

Despite the recent agreement, uncertainty remains about the complete resolution of all border disputes between these nuclear-armed neighbors.


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