New Delhi: Indian and Chinese troops celebrated Diwali with traditional sweet exchanges along five points on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), following a significant step towards de-escalation in the region. The exchanges took place in Ladakh’s Chushul Maldo and Daulat Beg Oldi, as well as at Banchha (near Kibutu) and Bumla in Arunachal Pradesh, and Nathula in Sikkim.
This comes after the recent disengagement agreement, which includes both armies withdrawing troops and dismantling temporary camps in the contested Depsang and Demchok areas. The deal, aimed at easing military and diplomatic tensions that have escalated since skirmishes at Pangong Lake and the deadly Galwan Valley clash in 2020, is seen as a hopeful step toward long-term stability.
Verification efforts continue to ensure compliance from both sides, with each army agreeing to communicate prior to regular patrols to avoid misunderstandings. Additionally, both nations will maintain surveillance capabilities in Depsang and Demchok to monitor the buffer zones.
Indian Army sources confirmed ongoing checks to verify China’s withdrawal, while satellite images captured last week showed the removal of military tents and vehicles on both sides in Ladakh. Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi emphasized that the Indian military is working towards rebuilding trust with its Chinese counterpart to prevent future confrontations in these buffer zones.
