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topicnews · September 26, 2024

Indian Army may return to patrol points on the LAC blocked by China. Here’s how | Foreign policy, defense and security news

Indian Army may return to patrol points on the LAC blocked by China. Here’s how | Foreign policy, defense and security news

Representative image of an Indian Army tank in Ladakh. Image credit: ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi on X)

5 minutes reading time Last updated: 26 September 2024 | 12:50 IS

India and China have reportedly made “significant progress” in overcoming their differences over unresolved issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, which could potentially lead to Indian troops regaining access to certain patrolling points along the LAC to which they were previously denied access.

The process also includes discussing a possible solution that takes into account both India and China’s positions prior to April 2020 while addressing the ongoing concerns in Arunachal Pradesh, the Indian Express on Thursday.

As both nations work to resolve long-standing disputes along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, including seeking a solution that takes into account their respective positions prior to the standoff, the report said local commanders from both sides have been holding meetings on the ground as part of confidence-building measures to avoid clashes.


What is the crux of this process?

Citing anonymous sources, the report said that Indian troops, who were previously denied access to certain patrolling points along the LAC – either due to the presence of Chinese troops or the creation of buffer zones during the disengagement process – may be able to regain access to these locations.

Speaking to the national daily, anonymous senior government officials confirmed that these developments had occurred in the course of recent diplomatic and political talks between New Delhi and Beijing.

The 31st meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was held in Beijing on August 29 in the presence of Indian military officials.

Now, the 22nd round of Corps Commander-level talks between India and China is scheduled to take place soon to finalise the details, including the timetable for troop redeployment based on the agreement.

What is the current status of the LAC?

Although troops stationed along the LAC remain on alert, the report said they are avoiding confrontations to prevent the trust deficit from worsening and delaying the implementation of redeployment plans.

In fact, as a further confidence-building measure, meetings between local commanders from both sides are said to have taken place to avoid clashes.

Winter stockpiling for the 50,000 to 60,000 additional troops stationed in eastern Ladakh is also still ongoing. The report said that while troop redeployment along the LAC may occur, the process of troop deployment and de-escalation is likely to be lengthy.

The last formal disengagement at the LAC took place in September 2022, when both sides withdrew their troops from Patrol Point 15 in the Gogra Hot Springs area of ​​eastern Ladakh.

Major friction points such as the Galwan Valley, the north and south banks of Pangong Tso and the Gogra hot springs area have also seen partial resolution over the last four years through the establishment of buffer zones along the LAC.

However, legacy issues in areas such as the Depsang Plain and Demchok, which existed before the current standoff, remain unresolved.

In the Depsang Plains, for example, Indian troops were denied access to their patrol posts at a location known as the Y-junction.

What are India’s current military plans along the LAC?

Officials familiar with the situation told the national daily that plans to raise an additional division for Ladakh were underway and at least one brigade was already partially deployed to the region.

The formation of this division, probably the 72nd Division, is reportedly expected by mid-2025. This will free up the Rashtriya Rifles Uniform Force and allow it to return to its original position within the 16th Corps.

However, officials reportedly said that infrastructure development along the LAC would continue as planned regardless of any changes in troop deployment to prepare for all possible eventualities.

Until the final redeployment plans are implemented, the current Indian troop deployments and patrols will remain in place.

The report, however, added that the Indian Army had not responded to questions on the matter at the time of reporting.

What do India and China say about the LAC?

Statements following diplomatic and political talks last month indicated progress toward a solution.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) released a statement on the WMCC meeting, calling it an open, constructive and forward-looking exchange of views aimed at reducing differences of opinion and finding a speedy solution to the ongoing issues.

On September 12, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar commented that about 75 percent of the “issues related to disengagement” with China had been “resolved,” but warned that the “bigger problem” was the increasing militarization of the border.

This was followed by a statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry that troops had withdrawn from four areas in eastern Ladakh, including the Galwan Valley, and that the situation along the borders remained stable.

In addition, on September 12, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met on the sidelines of the BRICS-NSA meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia, where they discussed progress in recent consultations on border issues.

A statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said the meeting between Doval and Wang provided an opportunity for both sides to review recent efforts to find an “early resolution” of the remaining issues along the LAC, which would help in stabilising and rebuilding bilateral relations.

Both parties agreed to “work with urgency and redouble their efforts to achieve complete separation in the remaining areas.”

First published: 26 September 2024 | 12:50 IS

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