New Delhi, India

India and China have decided to discuss and hopefully agree on the withdrawal of thousands of troops who are currently stationed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) amid the long-running standoff, stated the government of India.

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Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar held talks with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Thursday (July 25) on the sidelines of Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings in Laos.

The ministers emphasised the need for an early resolution of the issues along the two countries' disputed Line of Actual Control.

The boundary separates the territories held by India and China. The boundary runs along India's Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. 

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Why were troops stationed along LAC?

In July 2020, the relations between the two countries deteriorated after at least 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a military clash with the Chinese - China refused to reveal the number of deaths on its side, though several reports claimed the casualties were high.

The situation led to a long-running standoff in the mountainous area and tens of thousands of military personnel were stationed on each side with artillery, tanks and fighter jets.

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From some areas which are part of the northern and southern banks of Pangong Tso, Gogra and Galwan Valley, the troops have been withdrawn by both India and China. However, extra troops continue to remain in the area as part of the multitier deployment.

According to a statement released by the Indian government, the two foreign ministers “agreed on the need to work with purpose and urgency to achieve complete disengagement at the earliest".

It added that peace on the border is important to restore normalcy in ties between the two nations.

In his opening remarks, Jaishankar said the border issues have “cast a shadow” over India-China ties in the last four years even after considerable efforts being made by the two countries to solve the issue.

“The state of the border will necessarily be reflected on the state of our ties,” the minister said.

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Wang also emphasised that if the ties between India and China improve, it will be beneficial for the two countries as well as other nations, reported China’s official Xinhua News Agency. 

It added that the two countries have decided to work together to establish peace in the border areas and ensure progress.

In 1962, India and China fought a war over their border. The areas which are physically controlled by the two countries have been divided by the Line of Actual Control (LAC). 

India claims that the de facto border is 3,488 kilometres (2,167 miles) long, however, China says that it is shorter.

Several rounds of talks have been held between the Indian and Chinese armies over disengagement of troops in the areas after the clashes happened.

(With inputs from agencies)