India announced on Monday that it has reached an agreement with China regarding patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), marking a significant breakthrough in the four-year military standoff between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

The Indian Foreign Ministry confirmed the development just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Russia for the BRICS summit, where he may have the opportunity to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that both sides agreed to monitor the Ladakh region to ensure there are no violations. He noted that the agreement emerged from multiple rounds of discussions through diplomatic and military channels over the past few weeks, with the two sides now set to take the “next steps on this.”

A victory for diplomacy

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar later confirmed that the two nations have reverted to the pre-2020 situation along the LAC—the 3,500-kilometer (approximately 2,100-mile) border—following clashes that resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers in July 2020.

Jaishankar emphasized that the disengagement process with China has now “been completed” and that the “understanding” was reached “only today.” He remarked, “We have always said that if you disturb the peace and tranquility, how can the rest of the relationship go forward?”

He characterized the recent agreement as a positive development achieved through patience and persistent diplomacy, especially at a time when many had lost hope. This mutual understanding on patrolling is expected to help restore the peace and tranquility of the pre-2020 border areas. “Hopefully, we will be able to return to that peace and tranquility,” he added. There was no immediate confirmation from Beijing regarding the agreement.

Why it matters

Relations between the two countries have been tense since the 2020 clashes, affecting both diplomatic and economic interactions, leading New Delhi to restrict Chinese investments in India. Since then, more than 30 rounds of talks have taken place to de-escalate the situation.

In September, Jaishankar indicated that “up to 75% of the disengagement issues” have been resolved, with the remaining challenges focusing on patrolling and the deployment of personnel and weapons along the border.

Earlier in October, Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi noted that while the situation at the border currently appears “stable,” it is “not normal.” However, he remarked that “positive signals” are emerging from diplomatic talks, adding that execution on the ground relies on the military commanders of both nations.

Read more: India and China signal thaw in border dispute talks: Report