US welcomes India-China border breakthrough: Didn't play role in resolution

The US clarified that it did not play in the resolution of the India-China border row even though it welcomed the disengagement of Indian and Chinese troops along the friction points in eastern Ladakh.

In Short

• US says closely following developments of India-China border breakthrough
• India, China agree on resuming patrolling at some friction points along LAC
• Both countries have almost completed disengagement in Demchok, Depsang

The US on Tuesday welcomed the disengagement of Indian and Chinese troops along the friction points in eastern Ladakh, but clarified that it did not play any role in the resolution of the border conflict between India and China, despite being in touch with New Delhi over the matter.

"We are closely following the developments and we understand that both countries have taken initial steps to withdraw troops from the friction points along the Line of Actual Control. We welcome any reduction in tensions along the border. We have talked to our Indian partners and taken a brief on it, but we did not play any role in this resolution," he said at a briefing in Washington DC.

The US's response came after India announced last week that it had reached an agreement with China on patrolling along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, a major breakthrough in ending the over four-year-long military standoff, which began after Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a violent confrontation in Galwan Valley in May 2020.

China also confirmed the patrolling deal, with Beijing saying that a resolution has been reached on "relevant matters" and that it will work with New Delhi to implement these resolutions.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said that consensus has been achieved on patrolling and disengagement in Depsang and Demchok. He said that patrolling along the LAC would begin after disengagement, restoring the arrangement as it was in April 2020, before the border standoff began.

However, Jaishankar later said that the breakthrough agreement with China on patrolling along the LAC does not mean that issues between the two countries have been resolved.

On October 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held bilateral talks after five years on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Russia's Kazan, where they welcomed the border agreement.

India and China have begun troop disengagement at the two friction points in Demchok and Depsang Plains and this process is almost complete, defence sources told India Today TV on Tuesday.

Both Indian Army and the China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) are currently verifying the withdrawal of personnel and dismantling of military infrastructure in the sensitive sectors along the LAC.

However, discussions regarding the four buffer zones, including the Galwan area, are yet to begin. Sources said that talks at the Corps Commander level will decide on the possibility of resuming patrols in buffer zones, which will take place after the successful commencement of patrols in Demchok and Depsang.