New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said India and China have made “some progress” towards disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), calling it a “welcome” step that marks a further positive step in the relationship. Can. His comments come after Indian and Chinese troops recently completed disengagement from two major friction points in eastern Ladakh – Demchok and Depsang plains.
The minister said that following the recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Russia, further discussions were planned involving India’s National Security Advisor and China’s National Security Advisor. Ministry of External Affairs“So that’s where things stand,” he said, adding that the dissolution “opens up the possibility that other steps could be taken.”
“In terms of India and China, yes, we have made some progress,” Jaishankar said during an interaction with the Indian diaspora in Brisbane. “You all know that our relationship was very, very turbulent for those reasons. We have made some progress on what we call disengagement, which is when soldiers were too close to each other, with the possibility that something untoward could have happened.
The disengagement process, in which Indian forces began verification patrolling in Depsang and Demchok on Friday, is seen as an important step towards resolving border issues pending since the 2020 standoff. The LAC had seen a large deployment of Chinese troops, which was opposed by India, and this increase in troops from both sides contributed to escalating tensions.
“There are a very large number of Chinese troops deployed along the Line of Actual Control who were not there before 2020. And we have made counter-deployments in return,” Jaishankar said.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had earlier said that this new agreement on patrolling and withdrawal of troops, formalized after several rounds of talks, is a potential breakthrough to end the four-year standoff at the LAC. The Galwan Valley clash in June 2020 had strained relations between the two countries, making withdrawal of troops and talks necessary steps to normalize relations.
Jaishankar, in Brisbane on the first leg of a two-nation visit, also addressed global issues including conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and expressed concern over their impact on global stability. Highlighting India’s role in promoting diplomacy, he said Prime Minister Modi has been actively involved in discussions with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine. Jaishankar stressed India’s commitment to diplomatic solutions in both regions, saying, “We are trying to do something in both.”
On the Middle East, he pointed to challenges in mediating between Iran and Israel due to lack of direct communication, saying India was making efforts to prevent further escalation of tensions. “At the moment, the effort is more to prevent the conflict from spreading,” he said, hinting at India’s involvement without giving specific details.
but touching quad allianceJaishankar said the grouping of India, Australia, Japan and the United States is focused on a broad agenda that includes maritime security, connectivity and climate forecasting, among other areas. “You have four democracies, four market economies, four countries with strong records of global contribution,” he said, outlining the broader objective of the Quad.
During his Australian visit, Jaishankar will inaugurate India’s fourth consulate in the country and co-chair the 15th Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Canberra.
