India-China Disengagement at LAC Faces Strategic Test

Tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China have evolved as both nations reach new understandings on troop disengagement, specifically in eastern Ladakh. This development marks a potential end to over four years of standoff marked by a series of high-altitude confrontations since 2020. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar confirmed that both sides had agreed on a return to pre-2020 patrolling arrangements, signalling an operational shift back to the pre-April 2020 status in regions around Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso, and Gogra. Although the agreement was described as an outcome of “patient diplomacy,” it faces scrutiny over its scope, enforceability, and implications for broader India-China relations.

The disengagement, a product of two rounds of diplomatic talks held between July and August, aims to reduce friction at critical points. However, the accord does not imply a sweeping normalization of relations, given the remaining military presence and significant unresolved issues, particularly in areas like Depsang and Demchok. These sectors remain strategically sensitive, with patrol restrictions affecting routes critical for access to Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) and other operationally valuable areas. Indian military leaders emphasize that while the disengagement represents progress, ground realities remain “sensitive” and far from normalized.

The finalization of disengagement along specific patrol points in Depsang, located east of the vital Sub-Sector North road, has proven challenging. China’s continued military presence around the “Y Junction,” which lies approximately 20 kilometers from the DBO airfield, has implications for India’s defense logistics in regions close to Siachen. Although India maintains a key route through the Darbuk–Shyok–DBO (DSDBO) road, alternative access remains limited, which could hinder India’s capacity for swift mobilization in the event of renewed hostilities. The Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi reiterated India’s operational readiness and underscored the need for a complete restoration of traditional patrolling rights to ensure stability in the region.