NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that disengagement efforts along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh are nearing completion but efforts are being made to move ‘beyond just disengagement’ and build a stable foundation for long-term peace with China.
Singh highlighted that recent dialogues with China, conducted at both diplomatic and military levels, had fostered a mutual consensus to restore the previous ground situation at the LAC.
“Following recent talks, there has been a broad consensus to restore the ground situation. This consensus has developed on the basis of equal and mutual security. The agreement includes rights related to patrolling and grazing in traditional areas. Based on this consensus, the disengagement process is nearly complete. We will strive to move beyond just disengagement, but for that, we will need to wait a little longer,” Defence minister Rajnath Singh said.
Rajnath’s remarks follow a recent bilateral agreement between India and China, focused on patrolling arrangements along the disputed LAC areas. Since 2020, when the border standoff in eastern Ladakh first escalated due to Chinese military maneuvers, the two countries have experienced prolonged tensions, severely straining their relations.
Rajnath Singh also paid tribute to India’s first home minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, on his birth anniversary, acknowledging Patel’s crucial role in unifying the nation.”There are so many names that didn’t get a proper place in our history but that doesn’t mean their sacrifices were small. It is our duty to remember their sacrifices and give them respect. I pay respect to India’s first Union Home Minister and the brain behind the unity of the country, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel,” he remarked.
He later unveiled a statue of Patel, honoring his contribution to India’s independence and unity.
“Whenever India’s name is mentioned globally, ‘Unity in Diversity’ resonates. Our country is home to myriad languages, cultures, and religions, yet the unity we witness is remarkable,” he said, adding that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, economic and infrastructural development in India’s northeast has received unprecedented focus.
The past months have seen a renewed effort from both India and China to de-escalate tensions. Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a formal meeting, their first structured discussion in five years, on the sidelines of an international summit.
The leaders reaffirmed the importance of maintaining stable relations, citing the benefits to both Indian and Chinese citizens as well as to regional and global peace.