NEW DELHI/BEIJING, Oct 25 – India and China have commenced the implementation of an agreement aimed at resolving a military standoff along their disputed Himalayan border, marking a significant thaw in relations between the two nations since violent clashes occurred four years ago.
According to an Indian government source, troops that had been in close proximity at two locations in India’s Ladakh region have begun to withdraw, signaling the end of the standoff.
The withdrawal process started on Wednesday and is anticipated to be completed by the end of the month, as stated by a senior official from the Indian army. This agreement follows recent discussions between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which took place on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia and focused on patrolling the contested border.
“Following the recently agreed-upon solution between India and China, their frontline forces are implementing the relevant measures, and progress is proceeding smoothly,” stated Lin Jian, spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry.
In New Delhi, a government official revealed that troops from both countries have initiated their withdrawal from Depsang and Demchok, the final two points of direct confrontation. This official spoke anonymously as they were not authorized to address the media. The Indian army official mentioned that the returning troops will dismantle structures such as huts and tents, as well as retrieve vehicles previously positioned there before the April 2020 conflict.
Once the withdrawal is complete, both forces will be able to resume regular patrols along the border as they had done prior to the standoff.
India’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comments from Reuters.
CAUTIOUS EASING OF RELATIONS
Neither side has publicly disclosed the specifics of the new agreement, which is expected to facilitate the improvement of political and business relations that were strained by the deadly military clash in 2020, which resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian and four Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley.
While troops had previously retreated from five other standoff locations, the last such withdrawal took place over two years ago. On Wednesday, Xi and Modi committed to enhancing communication and cooperation in an effort to resolve ongoing conflicts.
However, officials in India indicated that New Delhi would remain cautious and would only take gradual steps toward strengthening economic ties with Beijing, given the trust deficit that has developed over the past four years.
India has previously severed direct air connections with China, banned numerous Chinese mobile applications, and imposed stricter regulations on Chinese investments, effectively blocking significant proposals from companies such as BYD and Great Wall Motors.
According to two Indian government sources, India is now considering reopening airspace and expediting visa approvals to align with the recent easing of tensions. However, New Delhi is not yet prepared to reverse all the measures it implemented against Beijing.
The two nations have a long history of border disputes, having fought a war in 1962 over their undemarcated boundary, which continues to strain bilateral relations.
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