Indian and Chinese Troops Exchange Diwali Sweets Following Border Disengagement

In a symbolic gesture of peace and goodwill, Indian and Chinese troops exchanged Diwali sweets at five locations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) a day after completing a key military disengagement. This exchange followed a patrolling agreement aimed at easing long-standing tensions in the region. The locations for the sweet exchange included Chushul Maldo and Daulat Beg Oldi in Ladakh, Banchha near Kibutu and Bumla in Arunachal Pradesh, and Nathula in Sikkim.

The disengagement comes after nearly four years of heightened military tension, which began with skirmishes and violent clashes in the Pangong Lake and Galwan Valley areas in May and June 2020, resulting in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers. The new patrolling agreement, which was announced on Monday, called for the removal of military personnel, camps, and infrastructure from key areas in Depsang and Demchok, with both sides agreeing to withdraw troops to their pre-April 2020 positions.

The deal’s timing is significant, as it was announced just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia for the BRICS summit, where he is expected to hold bilateral discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping. In a statement ahead of the visit, PM Modi emphasized the importance of “mutual trust and respect” and underscored that “peace and stability along the border should be a priority” for both nations.

As part of the disengagement, Indian and Chinese forces began removing their temporary structures, as confirmed by satellite images obtained by NDTV. These images, taken from the Depsang plains and Demchok, showed tents being taken down and military vehicles moving out of previously disputed areas. While both Delhi and Beijing will maintain surveillance options, ground-level commanders are expected to coordinate their patrols to prevent any future miscommunications or incidents.

Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi highlighted that the disengagement process is an effort to “restore trust” between the two militaries. “This rebuilding of trust,” he said, “will happen once we are able to see each other, and convince and reassure each other that we are not creeping into buffer zones that have been created.”

The disengagement process will be followed by de-escalation talks, though External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has declined to set a specific timeline, stating that de-escalation will only begin once India is confident that China has upheld its side of the agreement.

Despite the recent withdrawal of troops, concerns remain over other areas, including the Gogra-Hot Springs region in Ladakh, where forces disengaged last year. Intelligence reports suggest that Chinese troops still hold significant portions of Indian territory north of the Depsang plains. These areas are critical for India as they provide access to vital infrastructure such as the Daulat Beg Oldi airstrip, a crucial logistics base in the region.

As diplomatic talks continue, both nations aim to achieve a framework for border management after de-escalation. The hope is that this Diwali, marked by shared sweets, can lead to sustained peace and stability along one of the world’s most contested borders.

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