India’s decision to offer suo motu statements on border tensions with China in Parliament and to brief a parliamentary panel marks a welcome, albeit overdue, step toward transparency in addressing this critical issue. 

Progress on LAC Negotiations

The statements by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and the briefing by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri provided much-needed clarity on the government’s approach. Key highlights of the discussions include:

• Linking LAC Resolutions with Broader Engagement: India firmly conveyed to China that “normal” bilateral relations could not be resumed unless the LAC tensions are fully resolved.
• Continuous Engagement and Step-by-Step Negotiations:
  • 17 meetings of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC).
  • 21 rounds of Senior Highest Military Commanders’ Meetings (SHMC).
  • High-level meetings involving Foreign and Defence Ministers and Special Representatives.
• Next Steps Post-Disengagement:
  • While disengagement has been “fully achieved” at several points, the focus now shifts to troop de-escalation and de-induction from friction zones.
  • A long-term framework to manage ties in border areas is being explored.
• Specific Progress at Friction Points:
  • For Depsang and Demchok, “patrolling arrangements” have been discussed, but patrols have yet to resume.
  • In North and South Pangong Tso, Gogra, and Hot Springs, disengagement has been achieved via the creation of buffer zones—temporary measures designed to reduce direct confrontations.

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Conclusion

While progress has been slow, it offers a ray of hope. The steps toward greater transparency and continuous negotiation are encouraging, but much more needs to be done to rebuild trust and ensure that India’s territorial and security interests are effectively safeguarded.

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