India and China have begun the disengagement of troops at Depsang and Demchok, with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar attributing the breakthrough to military toughness and effective diplomacy. The process will conclude by October 29, with resumption of patrolling set for late October. Jaishankar expressed that normalization of relations will take time, following extensive negotiations since 2020 to manage ongoing border tensions.
On Friday, a significant agreement was initiated regarding the disengagement of Indian and Chinese forces at Depsang and Demchok, located in eastern Ladakh. External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar attributed this breakthrough to a combination of military resolve and adept diplomatic efforts by India. This withdrawal process, expected to conclude by October 29, will allow patrolling by both nations to resume around October 30-31. During a recent interaction with students in Pune, Minister Jaishankar emphasized the lengthy road ahead for the normalization of relations between India and China, noting, “It is still a bit early for normalization of relations which will naturally take time to rebuild a degree of trust and willingness to work together.” He reflected on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bilateral discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan, Russia, where it was mutually agreed that foreign ministers and National Security Advisors from both countries would confer on future steps. Jaishankar remarked, “If today we have reached where we have… One is because of the very determined effort on our part to stand our ground and make our point. The military was there (at LAC) in very very unimaginable conditions to defend the country, and the military did its part and diplomacy did its part.” He highlighted that India has significantly increased its defense resources, stating, “Today we have put in five times more resources annually than there used to be a decade ago which is showing results and enabling the military to actually be effectively deployed.” Reflecting on the disturbed border situation since 2020, the Minister noted that these tensions have adversely affected overall bilateral relations. He stated that negotiations began in September 2020 aimed at resolving the border issues, primarily focusing on disengagement due to the proximity of troops on either side, which posed a risk for conflict. Jaishankar indicated that after 2020, some understanding was reached regarding troop movements, although blocking of patrols remained a core issue that India sought to negotiate. He stated, “What happened on October 21 was that in those particular areas Depsang and Demchok we reached an understanding that patrolling would resume how it used to be before.”
The ongoing tensions between India and China, particularly along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), have significantly impacted diplomatic relations since 2020. Following numerous confrontations, both nations have engaged in dialogue to establish terms for troop disengagement and resuming patrolling in disputed areas. The recent agreement to withdraw forces and restore patrolling represents a notable step towards thawing relations and addressing security concerns in the region.
The recent disengagement agreement between India and China at Depsang and Demchok marks a pivotal moment in the relations between the two nations, predominantly achieved through strong military presence and diplomatic negotiations. However, the process of normalization is expected to be gradual and contingent upon rebuilding mutual trust and addressing ongoing boundary management concerns.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
