Indian and Chinese forces will resume joint patrolling at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) along the eastern Ladakh border that flared up deadly clashes in 2020, after more than four years. Soldiers from the sides started patrolling in areas along Depsang and Demchok on Thursday to mark the festival as part of the resumption-exchanging sweets for the auspicious festival of lights - Diwali. Depsang and Demchok are two other hotspots along the 852-km LAC at eastern Ladakh.

After agreeing to withdraw troops from Depsang and Demchok, patrolling resumed. It has been inactive since the clash in Pangong Lake and Galwan Valley regions, which cost India 20 lives. Last week, a new patrolling mechanism was agreed, upon which contained mutual notification procedures before the commencement of patrolling to avoid any misunderstandings.

Depsang and Demchok: Important strategic sites

Depsang and Demchok are crucial strategic places on the LAC. Depsang is essential for India because it can access the Daulat Beg Oldie airstrip and is in a strategic position to ward off possible challenges to logistics bases close to it. India currently holds the western end of Demchok, but it is claimed by China as its own.

Satellite images accessed last week had indicated signs of de-escalation wherein the Indian tents had been withdrawn from Depsang plains, and China structures were taken down in Demchok. According to sources, the Indian Army is verifying if Chinese troops have indeed withdrawn as per the terms of the disengagement agreement.

Indian and Chinese troops exchanged sweets at five locations along the LAC, including at Chushul Maldo and Daulat Beg Oldie in Ladakh, to celebrate Diwali and the progress in reducing tensions. The deal also provides for the physical withdrawal of troops and lets the two countries retain their surveillance capabilities in the area.

This agreement indicates a positive step forward but noted by Defence Minister of India, Rajnath Singh that “going beyond disengagement” is the goal, a process that may require time and further diplomatic negotiations. But there are still some fears related to continued de-escalation at some other spots in the disputed Ladakh region such as Gogra and Hot Springs.

The patrols are a representation of easing tensions but also indicate India and China’s commitment to a controlled, step-by-step resolution of their longstanding border disputes.