India and China must work towards rebuilding trust, according to the Indian army chief

Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has indicated that a standoff-like condition persists along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the informal ceasefire line between India and China, despite an agreement for disengagement reached in October 2024. During a press conference in New Delhi on Monday, the general emphasized the necessity for both nations to “come together and rebuild trust.”

General Dwivedi remarked that following the violent confrontations that began in 2020, both countries have altered the landscape, increased troop deployments, and amassed weaponry. Although efforts have been made to disengage, he pointed out that the border situation still resembles a standoff.

“The deployment of troops is directly influenced by the trust factor between the two armies, and capabilities have been established on the other side. Given the current capabilities, we will need to sustain troop levels,” General Dwivedi explained.

He further noted that “for the time being, we are not considering a reduction in troop levels along the Line of Actual Control during the winter months,” mentioning that a reassessment could take place before summer.

The Army Chief also reported that patrolling activities have resumed in the Depsang and Demchok regions of Eastern Ladakh along the LAC, in accordance with agreements made last year. He pointed out that two rounds of verification patrols have been completed thus far, with both sides expressing satisfaction with the process.

On October 21, just one day prior to the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, New Delhi and Beijing announced an agreement to disengage along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping engaged in a crucial bilateral discussion during the summit.

The two neighboring countries are striving for improved relations, as the extended border conflict has severely impacted their diplomatic and economic interactions. In response, India has enacted various economic policies, such as prohibiting Chinese mobile applications, increasing oversight of Chinese investments, and imposing limitations on electronics imports.