India says it has reached a deal with China to patrol disputed border

"Over the last several weeks, Indian and Chinese diplomatic and military negotiators have been in close contact with each other in a variety of forums, and as a result of these discussions, [an] agreement has been arrived at on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control," Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated. He emphasized that this agreement has led to 'disengagement and a resolution of the issues that arose in these areas in 2020.'

"The clashes in 2020 included a deadly melee in June, which resulted in the deaths of dozens of soldiers and was viewed within the Modi government as a betrayal by China. It also opened a diplomatic door for the United States, leading to tightened military and technological cooperation with India." This context underlines the importance of the recent agreement in potentially mending relations not just between India and China, but also in the broader geopolitical landscape.

Speculation has been building that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping would discuss normalizing relations during their upcoming face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS conference in Kazan. This meeting is seen as essential for advancing the peace process and improving ties between both nations.

Read at Washington Post