India and China have reached a significant agreement on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), according to an announcement made by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday.

Speaking at a press conference, Misri revealed that negotiators from both countries have been in ongoing discussions in recent weeks. The agreement aims to resolve the issues that surfaced in 2020 and outlines steps for disengagement in the border areas.

His remarks came ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kazan, Russia, for the BRICS summit. Back in August, India and China held talks to address the situation along the LAC, agreeing to jointly work towards maintaining peace and stability on the ground. Both nations committed to reducing their differences and accelerating diplomatic and military communication to resolve the remaining issues.

Since the violent 2020 clash in the Galwan Valley, tensions have persisted between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The incident prompted India to heighten scrutiny of Chinese investments and halt major bilateral projects.

To resolve the standoff, both sides have held multiple rounds of corps commanders-level talks. While progress has been gradual, a key breakthrough came in September 2022 when India and China disengaged from Patrolling Point-15 in the Gogra-Hot Springs area of Eastern Ladakh. This disengagement marked a significant step toward de-escalation, with buffer zones being created along the LAC.

The prolonged diplomatic and military standoff over the past four years has strained economic ties between the two countries. India has responded by increasing scrutiny of Chinese investments and suspending several major projects due to the ongoing tensions.