Jaishankar announces completion of disengagement along India-China border

New Delhi, Oct 21: External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar announced the completion of disengagement along the India-China border, a development poised to reduce tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Speaking at the NDTV World Summit on Monday, Jaishankar with caution hailed the progress as the product of "patient perseverance diplomacy," revealing that India and China have now reached a significant agreement allowing for the resumption of patrolling activities suspended in 2020. “It’s a positive development," Jaishankar stated, "we have agreed on patrolling arrangements, and we will be able to patrol the areas as we did before the stand-off in 2020.”

The announcement is pivotal, just as Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to attend the BRICS Summit in Russia. The border agreement, which could signal a gradual easing of the tensions that flared up with violent clashes in Ladakh in May 2020, represents a significant step toward restoring normalcy in relations between the world’s two most populous countries.

Earlier, in a detailed media briefing by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, the government outlined the contours of the breakthrough. According to Misri, after multiple rounds of diplomatic and military negotiations, both nations reached an accord on patrolling in the Depsang and Demchok regions of eastern Ladakh.

These areas have been flashpoints in the long-standing border dispute between India and China, especially following the deadly clashes in Galwan Valley in 2020, which resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and an undisclosed number of Chinese casualties.

Misri highlighted that the agreement is expected to pave the way for a phased disengagement and resolution of the larger issues surrounding the disputed boundary along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). “We have reached an understanding with China on several key points," Misri said to the media. "The agreement will allow both sides to resume patrolling in certain areas, and this should contribute to a peaceful and lasting resolution of the tensions that have persisted since 2020."

This diplomatic achievement is being viewed as a critical milestone in India’s foreign policy, demonstrating the effectiveness of India's balanced approach to military readiness combined with strategic dialogue.

It definitely is going to defuse one of the region's most volatile flashpoints, an achievement that carries weight not only in New Delhi and Beijing but across the broader international community.

Years of Strain, Hope for Normalisation

The India-China relationship has been strained since the skirmishes erupted in the high Himalayan mountainous region of Ladakh, pushing both countries into their most serious military confrontation in decades.

Despite several dozen rounds of talks, there was little progress until now. For the past three years, multiple rounds of talks at various levels, from military commanders to special representatives and foreign ministers, were aimed at restoring the status quo along the border.

Misri emphasised that the focus has always been on restoring peace and stability along the LAC, a crucial prerequisite for normalising broader bilateral ties. “Restoration of peace and tranquillity and respect for the LAC are the essential foundations for restoring normalcy in relations with China," he said, echoing India’s long-standing position that China’s border actions have severely strained the relationship.

The agreement comes after weeks of quiet, but intense, negotiations. As both sides gradually rebuild trust, analysts see this as a tentative but vital step toward resolving a broader range of territorial disputes that have plagued Sino-Indian relations for decades.

Will Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping hold a bilateral meeting?

This disengagement ahead of the BRICS Summit carries larger geopolitical implications, particularly in the context of shifting global power dynamics.

The BRICS group, composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, plays an increasingly significant role in global governance. The timing of this diplomatic breakthrough raises the possibility of renewed cooperation between India and China within the BRICS framework, particularly as both nations face pressure to contribute to the stabilisation of a fragile global order.

The summit, themed "Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security," provides an important platform for dialogue. In the backdrop of this agreement, it is possible that Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping could hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the event, potentially solidifying this progress and exploring further avenues for cooperation on both regional and global challenges.

For India, the easing of tensions on its northern border frees up military and diplomatic bandwidth, enabling New Delhi to focus more intensively on other strategic concerns, such as counterbalancing China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region through its partnerships with the Quad (United States, Japan, Australia, and India).

For China, the de-escalation could help alleviate some of the international scrutiny it faces over its increasingly assertive foreign policy, particularly in its handling of border disputes with its neighbours.

While the disengagement is a hopeful step, experts caution that the border issue is far from fully resolved. The Himalayan border is vast, treacherous, and often poorly demarcated, leaving room for future disputes.

Both sides still maintain large troop deployments in the region, and the potential for miscalculation remains high. However, the current agreement on patrolling rights marks a de-escalation of the immediate military threat and opens the door to further negotiations on outstanding issues.

However, the diplomatic breakthrough may enable greater collaboration in other bilateral spheres, including trade and investment, which have taken a hit due to the strained relations over the past few years.

As both nations prepare for the BRICS Summit in Russia, the eyes of the world will be on how India and China navigate this critical moment.

Can the momentum from the LAC disengagement translate into lasting peace, or will it be a temporary lull in a historically contentious relationship?

With global attention focused on the summit and the possibility of a Modi-Xi bilateral meeting, the outcome of these diplomatic efforts could shape not only the future of Sino-Indian relations but also the broader balance of power in Asia.