India and China have reached a patrolling agreement along their disputed Himalayan border, which could lead to disengagement and resolution of a conflict that began in 2020.
This development comes on the eve of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia for a meeting of the BRICS bloc of developing economies, where he could hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines. India-China ties have been strained since 2020, following deadly clashes on their de facto Himalayan border known as the Line of Actual Control.
Both countries have deployed thousands of troops to the area and downscaled engagements, while their officials have engaged in multiple talks aiming to resolve the standoff. India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced that the agreement on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China border areas has been reached, leading to disengagement and resolution of issues that had arisen in these areas in 2020.
The specifics of the latest agreement are key to evaluating the most recent developments, and the announcement “clearly indicates” that a meeting between Modi and Xi is likely to take place this week. India’s Foreign Ministry has yet to confirm plans for bilateral talks on the sideline of BRICS and is still “looking into” Modi’s final agenda in Russia.
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