External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced on Tuesday that India and China have completed the last phase of their disengagement process as of October 21, calling it a “positive development.” The remarks were made during a joint press conference with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Canberra.
Jaishankar elaborated on the disengagement, saying, “On October 21st, we concluded the last lot of disengagement agreements, having made some progress earlier. These agreements are currently being implemented, with the latest primarily concerning the patrolling rights of both nations.”
He further said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to hold meetings between their respective national security advisors and foreign ministers. Jaishankar emphasized that once the disengagement process is fully realized, the focus will shift to addressing other challenges, including the de-escalation of military forces along the border.
The discussions between PM Modi and President Xi took place during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. PM Modi highlighted the significance of the relationship between India and China, asserting its importance for the people of both nations as well as for regional and global peace and stability.
Reiterating this sentiment, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commented last week on ongoing discussions at both diplomatic and military levels to resolve conflicts along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). He said that a broad consensus had been reached to restore the situation on the ground, based on mutual security principles. Singh stated, “Based on this consensus, the disengagement process is nearly complete. We will strive to move beyond just disengagement, but for that, we will need to wait a little longer.”
This announcement follows confirmation from both nations regarding an agreement on patrolling arrangements in the border areas. The tensions between India and China flared up in 2020 due to Chinese military actions in eastern Ladakh, leading to a prolonged standoff that has strained relations.
Earlier in the day, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in India conveyed via the social media platform X that the Chinese and Indian troops are effectively implementing the resolutions agreed upon regarding the border situation. Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong expressed hope that bilateral relations would advance smoothly and not be hindered by specific disagreements.
(Inputs from ANI)
