Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced on Monday that India and China have come to an agreement regarding patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control.
Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi stated on Tuesday that Indian forces will only disengage with China in Ladakh once the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is restored to the status quo of April 2020.
His statement followed New Delhi announcement that India and China have reached an agreement on disengagement in eastern Ladakh ending a standoff that lasted over four years.
General Dwivedi stated that efforts are underway to restore trust with China which had attempted to destabilize the LAC with its aggressive actions.
We aim to return to the status quo of April 2020. Only after that will we consider disengagement, de-escalation and the normal management of the LAC. This has been our stance since April 2020. Currently we are working on rebuilding trust. That will be achieved once both sides can observe and reassure each other that we are not encroaching into the buffer zones that have been established he told ANI.
India and China bilateral relations declined due to Beijing aggressive actions at the LAC in April-May 2020.
India asserts that normalization of relations with China will only occur after the situation at the de facto border is restored to its status prior to May 2020.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced on Monday that India and China have reached an agreement regarding patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control.
We have been in discussions with Chinese interlocutors through the WMCC as previously mentioned and at the military level through meetings of military commanders at various levels. These discussions have previously led to the resolution of standoffs at various locations. However you are also aware that there are a few locations where the standoff has not been resolved he stated.
Following the discussions that have taken place over the past several weeks an agreement has been reached regarding patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China border areas. This is leading to disengagement and ultimately a resolution of the issues that arose in these areas in 2020 he stated.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar noted that the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has reverted to what it was prior to May 2020.
