Power of dialogue achieved broad consensus, says Rajnath Singh

The agreement with China to ease tensions on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) includes resumption of patrolling and grazing in traditional areas, defence minister Rajnath Singh has said, emphasising that consensus has been achieved through the power of engaging in continuous dialogue.

In his first remarks on the new agreement with China that is set to restore Indian access to several patrolling points which had been blocked by the PLA since April 2020, the minister said that the principles of equal and mutual security were the basis of the dialogue.

“India and China have been involved in talks both at diplomatic and military levels to resolve their differences in certain areas along the LAC. Pursuant to the talks, broad consensus has been achieved to restore the ground situation based on the principles of equal and mutual security,” the minister said, addressing senior military leaders at the Chanakya Defence Dialogue in the capital on Thursday.In particular, the minister mentioned that the agreement will include access to traditional grazing areas along the LAC, which has been a key demand of locals who have faced hardships over the past four years to sustain livestock that depend on moving across vast areas in search of food.

“The consensus achieved includes patrolling and grazing in traditional areas. This is the power of engaging in continuous dialogue because sooner or later, solutions will emerge,” the minister added.

The remarks came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit and welcomed the recent agreement for complete disengagement and resolution of issues that arose in 2020.The two leaders also agreed that the special representatives on the India-China boundary question will meet at an early date to oversee the management of peace and tranquillity in border areas and to explore a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary question.Disengagement of troops on the ground at Depsang and resumption of patrolling to traditional areas is expected to be undertaken over the next few days. The Indian Army will proceed with caution and has said that trust has to be restored with China for normal management of LAC.

As part of the larger agreement, there will also be an easing of positions in Arunachal Pradesh that have seen flareups over the past four years. Sources said that two areas in particular were part of the new arrangement with China – Yangtse and Asaphila.