India and China have reached an agreement regarding the patrolling of their shared Himalayan border, which may help ease tensions between the two nations following a deadly skirmish in 2020.
During a news conference on Monday, India's foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, announced that the agreement was the result of weeks of negotiations between diplomatic and military representatives from both countries. The aim of the agreement is to facilitate disengagement and address issues that arose in 2020.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Lin Jian, confirmed on Tuesday that both nations have been in close communication and have reached a resolution that China views positively. He noted that both sides will implement the agreed-upon resolutions moving forward.
The announcement was made just before the BRICS summit, which includes both India and China. Indian officials did not confirm whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the summit in Kazan, Russia. However, the timing suggests that Mr. Modi may discuss the implications of military disengagement.
Misri did not provide details on how patrolling would be managed along the Line of Actual Control, a 2,100-mile border established after the 1962 war between India and China. The challenging terrain in the Himalayas complicates border definition and claims.
The 2020 clash resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Indian soldiers, while China denied reports of higher casualties among its troops. Subsequent smaller confrontations occurred in 2021 and 2022.
Indian officials indicated that the new patrolling agreement aims to restore relations to their pre-2020 state. Historically, troops from both countries have maintained a presence along the border, but confrontations have increased as infrastructure has developed in the region.
Analysts have largely welcomed the announcement, with some viewing it as a step towards normalizing relations. Deependra Singh Hooda, a retired lieutenant general, stated that restoring patrolling rights is a significant move towards repairing ties.
Conversely, national security expert Bharat Karnad cautioned that the deal may not represent a significant breakthrough, suggesting that it could take years to finalize the specifics of the agreement.
China appeared to manage discussions about the agreement tightly, with limited comments on social media. Former Chinese military officer Song Zhongping noted that while the deal does not resolve all border disputes, it allows both countries to focus on economic issues and avoid being manipulated by external powers, particularly the United States.
Song emphasized that the U.S. government aims to position India as a key player in its Indo-Pacific strategy, potentially exacerbating tensions between India and China.