China agrees to India's patrolling rights in Depsang, next step de-escalation

The agreement with China on patrolling rights is set to restore Indian access to several border points in eastern Ladakh that have been cut off since 2020, including the vital Depsang plateau that was blocked by forward deployed Chinese troops and has been the main point of concern.

Details of the patrolling agreement are yet to be shared but disengagement of troops at both Depsang, where Chinese soldiers had blocked access to patrolling points by occupying the 'Y Junction', and Demchock, where tents had been erected Indian side of LAC, was vital to move to the next step of de-escalation.

A larger de-escalation- in which forward deployed troops inducted in thousands since tensions broke out in 2020 will be moved back to their peacetime locations - has been the focus of talks from the Indian side.

While the Demchock issue was resolved sometime ago, Depsang disengagement was more complicated as PLA had established a permanent presence at the 'Y Junction' and were reluctant to move back. The 'Y Junction' is the access point for Indian troops to reach Patrolling Points 10, 11, 11A, 12 and 13.

With the new agreement, Indian soldiers will resume patrolling in these areas, as was the case before 2020 when China moved in thousands of troops on the border at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic and blocked traditional patrolling routes.

The Army is likely to proceed with cautious optimism as removal of forward positions and resumption of patrolling are a delicate process. There is a reason for caution as in June 2020, the clash at Galwan took place after an agreement had been reached to withdraw troops from the valley and soldiers were in the process of moving back.

It also remains to be seen how and when patrolling is resumed in the other hotspots where troops have disengaged over the past four years. These include the Finger area along Pangong Tso, the Galwan valley and Gogra-Hot Springs.