India-China Patrol Agreement: Tensions Ease, Caution Needed

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

1. India and China agree to resume patrolling along the LAC.
2. Experts advise caution regarding China’s intentions.
3. Patrol arrangement eases tension, but full resolution remains distant.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

In a significant diplomatic development, India and China have agreed to resume patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, particularly in the sensitive areas of Depsang Plains and Demchok. The agreement, announced on Monday by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, is viewed as an important step towards easing tensions between the two nations, which have persisted since the Galwan Valley clash in 2020.

However, experts caution that India should remain vigilant about China’s intentions. Geostrategist Brahma Chellaney, while welcoming the move, advised against viewing it as a major breakthrough. He emphasized that China is unlikely to roll back its territorial gains in Depsang and Demchok, making it only the first step in disengagement without resolving the broader issues.

Retired Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain echoed these concerns, noting that China’s infrastructure development in the last four years will not be easily reversed. He added that de-escalation is a slow process, taking years, and warned against expecting an immediate resolution.

The agreement is being seen as a positive prelude to a potential meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS Summit in Kazan on Tuesday, though experts believe it will only mark the beginning of a long process.

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