LAC patrolling agreement with China doesn't mean everything is resolved: EAM Jaishankar
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| External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar |
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, on Saturday, addressed the recent breakthrough agreement between India and China on patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), highlighting that while this marks progress, it does not signify a complete resolution of the ongoing border issues. Speaking at an event in Pune, Jaishankar credited the Indian military's resilience in "unimaginable" conditions and deft diplomatic efforts for achieving the recent disengagement agreement.
"The latest step of disengagement, an October 21 agreement for patrolling to resume in Depsang and Demchok, allows us to look at the next phase. It’s not that everything has been resolved, but disengagement as the first step has been reached," Jaishankar noted.
In a separate interaction with students, Jaishankar remarked that it is “still early” to expect a full normalisation of relations, noting that trust-building would take time. He also highlighted the discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, where it was decided that the foreign ministers and National Security Advisors of both nations would work on next steps.
Reflecting on India’s stance, Jaishankar said, “We have made a determined effort to stand our ground. The military was there [at the LAC] defending the country under challenging conditions, and our diplomacy matched that effort.” He further noted that India’s ongoing infrastructure development along the border has strengthened its strategic positioning, explaining that annual resources for border infrastructure have increased fivefold over the past decade.
Earlier this week, India and China announced an agreement to resume patrolling at key points along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, marking progress in resolving a military standoff that has persisted since 2020. Jaishankar said the solution has multiple facets, including disengagement, de-escalation, and long-term boundary management. He explained that the immediate focus is on disengagement, as troops are stationed in close proximity, raising the risk of potential incidents.
The EAM further noted that while some progress had been made in previous negotiations after the 2020 clashes, the recent agreement to unblock patrolling at Depsang and Demchok marks a significant step. Troop disengagement at these friction points has already commenced and is expected to conclude by October 28-29.
In a separate comment on China’s "string of pearls" strategy—interpreted as an encirclement strategy involving a network of Chinese ports and facilities—Jaishankar underscored the need for India to respond strategically. "This development has to be taken seriously, and India must be prepared to compete. Unfortunately, in the past, this strategy wasn’t viewed as a serious concern, which was a miscalculation rooted in ideological views," he added.
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