India, China LAC breakthrough: What will change on the ground?

The Line of Actual Control (LAC) was established after the 1962 Indo-China war as a de facto border between the two sides.

India and China have signalled a major breakthrough along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh with the restoration of patrolling rights in key sectors.

On Monday, the ministry of external affairs said that India has arrived at an agreement with China on patrolling along LAC. A day later, China also confirmed the development.

The restoration of patrolling rights is likely to result in further de-escalation of border tensions, which have weighed heavy on both sides since the 2020 Galwan valley clash.

Army officials, including Army chief Upendra Dwivedi, maintain that India wants to return to the pre-April 2020 status quo that prevailed in the LAC.

"Once we go back to pre-2020 situation, we will begin the disengagement process," the Army chief said, commenting on the recently announced breakthrough.

What's changed after the breakthrough

Due to complex and long-standing border issues between India and China, it is important to understand the significance of the recent development and how it will change the situation along LAC.

According to PTI, the recent agreement between India and China will facilitate patrolling in Depsang and Demchok areas of the LAC.

These are the two areas where significant unresolved issues persist between the two sides. Depsang Plains are in the north of Ladakh while Demchok lies in the south.

Sources told The Indian Express that India and China have agreed that patrolling should resume up to the old patrolling points along the LAC. This means that patrolling will resume up to patrolling point (PP) 10 to 13 in the Depsang Plains and in Charding Nullah of Demchok, the report said.

Moreover, both sides have mutually agreed for de-escalation in the eastern theatre, including some areas in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Indian Express report said that despite restoration of patrolling in Depsang Plains and Demchok, the situation in some other friction points remains the same. These include Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso.

The disengagement in these regions was achieved in 2022 with the creation of buffer zones. A buffer zone is a temporary demilitarised zone (DMZ), which is created by two sides during a conflict. No military activities can take place in these areas.

Indian troops will patrol their own side of the LAC twice a month following the recent talks, sources told The Indian Express.

There is still no clarity on the withdrawal of additional troops from these sectors.

Legacy issues

The border problems in these two areas predate the 2020 Chinese incursion and have been a legacy issue between India and China.

A Times of India report said that Demchok is near the southernmost part of the LAC, near the border with Himachal Pradesh. During the 1962 Indo-China conflict, Chinese troops intruded into a village in the region.

The report said that it was the first place where China stopped Indian officials from carrying out construction of a road.

On the other hand, Depsang Plains is a flat region that lies near Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO). It is located in the northwest portion of the disputed Aksai Chin region in Ladakh.

The disputed area was under Chinese occupation until India began making progress in the region, eventually building a road that now provides access, TOI reported.

Moreover, the flat terrain facilitates the easy movement of troops and military vehicles, including tanks.

Galwan Valley, a key strategic location where the Shyok and Galwan rivers converge, was the site of clashes during the 1962 conflict. It is where the 2020 May clashes also took place.

The Galwan region holds strategic value to China since it offers a vantage point overlooking the road to DBO (Daulat Beg Oldi), India's military base.

The Line of Actual Control (LAC) was established after the 1962 Indo-China war as a de facto border between the two sides. It stretches from Eastern Ladakh in the west to Arunachal Pradesh in the east.

While it came into existence to prevent further conflict over disputed territories, the border itself is not properly demarcated and has often led to disputes between both the sides.