Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi addressed the ongoing trust issues with China a day after the two nations reached a new agreement on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
During the Colonel Pyara Lal Memorial Lecture in Delhi, General Dwivedi emphasized the importance of restoring mutual trust between India and China to move forward with disengagement and de-escalation processes along the LAC.
“We want to go back to the status quo of April 2020. Thereafter, we will look at disengagement, de-escalation, and normal management of the LAC,” said General Dwivedi. He noted that the restoration of trust would occur when both sides could convince and reassure each other that there is no encroachment into the buffer zones created since the standoff began.
This agreement comes after prolonged discussions at both diplomatic and military levels. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian confirmed the agreement and highlighted that China views the development positively.
“China and India have maintained close communication through diplomatic and military channels regarding border-related issues. Both sides have now reached a solution,” said Lin Jian, emphasizing that both nations will work together to implement the solution effectively.
Despite the progress, caution remains. The new agreement addresses two key friction points, Depsang and Demchok, but significant issues persist, particularly at Depsang, where Chinese forces have blocked access to Indian Patrol Points covering nearly 952 square kilometers of strategic territory.
The ongoing standoff at the Charding Nullah Junction in Demchok, where Chinese forces have established a presence, further complicates the situation.
General Dwivedi reiterated that the disengagement processes in Galwan, Gogra, Hot Springs, and Pangong Tso have not impacted India’s claim over the LAC alignment. While the agreement marks a significant step, its success will only be confirmed once both sides fully implement it on the ground.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to discuss the agreement further during the BRICS Summit in Russia today.
