Has the hope for peace on the border increased? Important talks took place again between India and China:

News India Live, Digital Desk : India-China Border Talks : Talks have once again taken place at the diplomatic level between India and China to reduce the long-running tension on the Ladakh border. Senior officials of both the countries discussed border issues, especially maintaining peace and stability in the ‘Western Sector’ (Ladakh) through video conference. The meeting took place under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC), an established forum to resolve border disputes.

What was the main topic of conversation?

The entire focus of this conversation was on the ‘Western Sector’ adjacent to Eastern Ladakh. Since the violent clash in Galwan Valley in the year 2020, the armies of both the countries are deployed face to face in this area. Although in the last few years, after several rounds of military and diplomatic talks, the forces have retreated from some places, there are still many ‘friction points’ like Depsang and Demchok, where the situation has not returned to normal.

In this meeting, India once again strongly placed its demand for complete withdrawal of troops from all these remaining points and de-escalation. India has always maintained that relations between the two countries cannot be completely normal until peace and stability is restored on the border.

What does China have to say?

The Chinese side also agreed to stabilize the situation on the border and resolve the issues through dialogue. A statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that both sides have agreed to move the border situation from “calm and control” to the stage of “normal management and control”. However, China often talks about keeping the border dispute separate from bilateral relations, which India never accepted.

Did any concrete result emerge from this conversation?

Although no major success has been announced in this meeting, the most important thing is that talks are going on between the two countries. Both sides have agreed to maintain contacts through military and diplomatic channels and hold the next round of military commander level talks soon.

Maintaining peace on the border is a long and complex process. Such meetings help in melting the ice, but a permanent solution at the ground level will require many more rounds of talks. Until troops withdraw from all conflict points, relations between India and China will remain tense.