NEW DELHI: Indian and Chinese troops on Thursday exchanged sweets at several points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to mark festival of Diwali. This tradition, aimed at fostering goodwill between the neighboring nations, came just one day after a crucial disengagement process was completed at two long standing friction points, Demchok and Depsang Plains, in eastern Ladakh.
The Diwali exchanges took place at five Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) points along the LAC. “Sweets were exchanged between Indian and Chinese troops along several border points along the LAC on the occasion of Diwali,” an army source told PTI.
This latest disengagement at Demchok and Depsang Plains follows months of high-level diplomatic and military talks aimed at de-escalating tensions that began in 2020. During these discussions, officials from both nations sought to restore the ground situation through equitable security measures, leading to this latest consensus.
Speaking at an event in Assam’s Tezpur earlier today, defence minister Rajnath Singh expressed optimism regarding the de-escalation efforts. “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,” he said.
Chinese ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, shared similar sentiments, highlighting the importance of managing and resolving differences constructively. “It is natural for neighboring countries like India and China to have differences, but the focus should be on how we handle these,” Xu remarked, adding that the successful disengagement at Demchok and Depsang sets a positive tone for future cooperation in politics, business, and education.
After the de-escalation, Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a formal meeting, their first structured discussion in five years, on the sidelines of Brics summit in Russia.
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.