The Indian and Chinese armies exchanged sweets and greetings on Diwali at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point in eastern Ladakh, continuing a tradition of goodwill even amid a cautious disengagement process along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

On Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed that disengagement efforts along the LAC are nearly complete, noting recent consensus between India and China on restoring the ground situation based on mutual security. Speaking at the inauguration of the Bob Khathing Museum in Assam’s Tezpur, he highlighted ongoing diplomatic and military discussions aimed at resolving lingering border conflicts. “We strive not only for disengagement but also to restore peace along the border,” Singh said.

Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, emphasized that while India and China, as neighboring countries, will inevitably have differences, resolving these differences is key to their relationship. With disengagement now completed in areas like Depsang and Demchok, Xu expressed hope for expanded cooperation in various fields, including politics, trade, and education.

The LAC standoff, which began in 2020, has led to a prolonged strain between the two nations. Chief of Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, stressed that restoring trust along the LAC would require phased steps of disengagement, de-escalation, and buffer zone management to return to the April 2020 status quo.