India and China have commenced the implementation of an agreement aimed at resolving their military standoff along the disputed Himalayan border, marking a significant diplomatic breakthrough since violent clashes between their troops occurred four years ago.
The two countries recently reached an agreement on border patrolling, which facilitated discussions between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at a regional summit in Russia. According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, both nations are making steady progress in implementing the agreed-upon measures, leading to troop withdrawals at critical confrontation points, particularly in Depsang and Demchok.
An Indian government source indicated that troops from both sides have begun to withdraw from these areas where they had been in close proximity. While specifics of the new pact have not been disclosed, it is expected to help mend political and economic relations that have been strained following the 2020 Galwan Valley incident, which resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers.
Despite the thaw in relations, India remains cautious. The country had previously restricted direct flights to China, banned numerous Chinese apps, and implemented strict scrutiny of Chinese investments. Officials have indicated that while there may be considerations for reopening air routes and expediting visa processes, New Delhi is not ready to fully retract all the measures taken against Beijing in recent years.
The longstanding border dispute, which sparked a war in 1962, continues to be a source of tension between the nuclear-armed neighbors, making the current diplomatic developments particularly noteworthy.
