India and China Begin Implementing Border Agreement, Ending Himalayan Standoff

October 26, 2024 by No Comments

India and China have commenced the implementation of an agreement designed to end a military standoff on their disputed border, as stated by both sides on Friday. This development marks the most significant improvement in relations between the Asian giants since deadly clashes between their armies four years ago.

Troops positioned at two points on the frontier in India’s Ladakh region, within the western Himalayas, have begun withdrawing, according to an Indian government source, signaling an end to the standoff.

The process commenced on Wednesday and is anticipated to conclude by the end of the month, as confirmed by a senior Indian army official.

The nuclear-armed neighbors reached an agreement earlier this week regarding patrolling the frontier, paving the way for the first formal talks between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in five years. These talks took place on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia.

“According to the recently agreed solution between India … their frontline armies are implementing relevant work, with smooth progress so far,” said Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry.

In New Delhi, a government official with knowledge of the details confirmed that troops on both sides have initiated withdrawal from the areas of Depsang and Demchok, the last remaining points where they had faced off.

The source spoke on condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to speak to the media on the issue.

The Indian army official stated that the returning troops will remove structures such as huts and tents, and retrieve vehicles they had deployed to positions that existed before the conflict began in April 2020.

The two forces will subsequently resume patrolling along the frontier, as they did before the standoff, the official added.

India’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

CAUTIOUS BUSINESS EASING

Neither side has publicly disclosed details of the new pact, which is anticipated to contribute to improving political and business ties that were strained by a deadly military clash in 2020. During this clash, 20 Indian and four Chinese troops perished in the Galwan Valley.

The two sides had previously withdrawn troops from five other face-off points, but the last such withdrawal occurred over two years ago.

On Wednesday, Xi and Modi agreed to enhance communication and cooperation in an effort to facilitate the resolution of the conflict.

However, officials in India emphasized that the country would remain cautious and would only take incremental steps towards boosting economic ties with Beijing, given the trust deficit that has developed over the past four years.

India had severed direct air links with China, banned hundreds of Chinese mobile applications, and imposed stricter vetting procedures on Chinese investments, effectively blocking all major proposals from companies such as BYD and Great Wall Motors.

Two Indian government sources indicated that India would now consider reopening airspace and expediting visa approvals to complement the recent easing of tensions. Nevertheless, New Delhi is not prepared to reverse all the measures it implemented against Beijing in the near future.

The Asian giants engaged in a war in 1962 over their undemarcated border, which has been a persistent source of friction in their relations.