Politics

Jaishankar Highlights Role of Military and Diplomacy in India-China LAC Breakthrough

On Saturday, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar emphasized how India’s military and diplomatic capabilities worked together to achieve the most recent agreement with China about patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). With the deal, Indian and Chinese forces in Depsang and Demchok, eastern Ladakh, have begun to disengage after a protracted standoff. The procedure started on Friday and is anticipated to be finished by October 29. Joint patrolling will resume from October 30 to October 31.

Speaking to students in Pune, Jaishankar said that although this is a big step, it is still “too early for full normalization of relations,” adding that it will take time to establish confidence. In response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan, Russia, Jaishankar said that more consultations between the countries’ foreign ministries and national security advisors are scheduled to sketch out a course of action.

“We have made a determined effort to maintain our position, which is why we have arrived at this point today,” Jaishankar said. Under difficult circumstances, the military stood its position, while diplomacy helped to advance the cause,. He continued by saying that the present advancements are a result of India’s military being able to function efficiently thanks to increased yearly funding for border protection.

An Overview of the Border Situation The altered border dynamics since 2020 have had a major effect on bilateral relations, Jaishankar noted. He clarified, “India has been negotiating with China since September 2020 to achieve a sustainable solution,” with disengagement being the top priority because of the troops’ close proximity and the possibility of an escalation.

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Jaishankar explained the phases involved in the de-escalation process and pointed out that managing boundaries and disengaging have been important areas of focus. Disengagement, in which soldiers return to their bases, is the first stage, he stated. Negotiating the restart of the blocked patrolling was a crucial component. After two years of negotiations, the most recent accord, reached on October 21, calls for the restoration of patrols in key Depsang and Demchok districts. This is viewed as an indication that tensions are beginning to decline.