For the first time in decades, India and China agreed late on Friday to new patrolling agreements to de-escalate tensions on their disputed Himalayan border. This means the last few decades of skirmishes, including the bloody Galwan Valley clashes two years ago, was the first fatal confrontation between the two nations since 1975.

Terms of Agreement

India’s foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, said on Monday that both parties have agreed on an agreement focused on the “disengagement and resolution of issues” that have ensued since the Galwan Valley incident. Though Mr. Misri underlined the importance of this agreement, he did not give details of how or what the disengagement process would be or whether it would cover all the disputed areas on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).’

Background of Tension

This time around, though, the incursion by Chinese soldiers into India’s Galwan Valley resulted in casualties on both sides. The tensions since then have only mounted as troops on both sides were clashing with clubs and sticks since the 1996 agreement does not allow both sides to use firearms or explosives near the border. The latest skirmishes were in northern Sikkim in 2021 and the Tawang sector in 2022.

Larger implications for the India-China engagement:

The latest agreement appears to have paved the way for a thaw in the already frayed relations between the two nuclear powers. ‘Misri made the remarks one day ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to Russia to attend the BRICS summit, representing Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. However, he did not confirm if Modi would meet the President of China, Xi Jinping, during the trip.

Ongoing Border Conflicts and Infrastructure Competition

The India-China conflict is age-old, while the border is ill-defined at 3,440 kilometres (2,100 miles), replete with rivers, lakes, and snow caps in ever-changing terrain. All this competition to improve infrastructure along the border worsens the condition.

Conclusion: A Step Toward Stability?

The new agreement on patrolling arrangements has marked a landmark development in reducing tensions.’ However, the details and effectiveness of disengagement remain to be seen. Historical grievances of border disputes, however, have been a hindrance to warm India-China relations. Still, this new understanding sheds a little hope for future stability.’

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