Both India and China are reportedly considering the option of putting patrolling protocols in place along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh to avoid a repeat of the June 15 Galwan Valley clash.
According to reports, with the Chinese PLA building roads, laying fibre optic cables and setting up posts powered by solar panels up to the friction points along the LAC in Ladakh and the Indian army matching the effort, it is only a matter of time before the two armies face off again while patrolling their perceived border line.
“The first step is total disengagement, then de-escalation with minimum troops being kept by both sides as per 1993-1996 bilateral agreements and then some working mechanism where the patrolling parties of two sides do not clash,” HT quoted a top official as saying.
While the short-term solution of disengagement and de-escalation is a work in progress, keeping in mind the friction at patrolling point 17 (Gogra) and Pangong Tso fingers, diplomats on both sides are looking for a long-term solution that will keep their soldiers apart.