Why is it in the news?

• Indian and Chinese negotiators have reached an agreement on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), aimed at resolving the issues that arose in 2020 and enabling disengagement.
• This announcement was followed by a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping during the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia. However, Chinese statements have notably omitted any reference to the patrolling agreement.

Details of the Agreement

• In April 2024, Prime Minister Modi stressed the importance of resolving the prolonged border situation to normalize relations with China. In response, the Chinese government acknowledged the broader significance of their relationship beyond the boundary issue.
• In May, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed optimism about resolving the remaining border issues, which primarily involve patrolling rights. The patrolling pact, central to the agreement, was announced by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
• Patrolling plays a critical role in border management, with Indian troops patrolling areas based on their perception of the LAC and leaving behind signs of their presence. The 2005 border pact outlines guidelines for managing face-offs, urging restraint and preventing escalation.
• The current agreement restores patrolling rights in the Depsang Plains and Demchok regions, which are considered legacy issues predating the 2020 incursions. Indian troops will now resume patrolling and grazing activities in these areas as they did before May 2020.

• Disengagement, de-escalation, and de-militarization will follow, affecting the 50,000 to 60,000 troops stationed on both sides of the LAC. Misri clarified that previous disengagements at friction points like Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso will not be renegotiated, emphasizing the importance of monitoring to prevent future clashes.
• He also outlined the sequence of steps: disengagement first, followed by discussions on de-escalation and troop withdrawal later. The endorsement of this agreement by Modi and Xi is viewed as a positive step toward easing tensions.

Cautionary Approach

• However, after the Modi-Xi meeting, divergences in statements from both sides raised caution. While India highlighted the need to resolve the 2020 issues, China focused on the progress made without mentioning complete resolution.
• India maintains that normal relations cannot resume until the border standoff is fully resolved, while China views the boundary issue as separate from broader bilateral ties.
• Indian strategic experts are urging a “trust but verify” approach, noting that while the agreement has initiated trust-building, it may take years to complete the three-step process of disengagement, de-escalation, and troop withdrawal.
• Whether these steps will occur in parallel or sequentially remains to be seen, and India’s strategic circles are watching the situation closely.