The next priority will be de-escalation, which would address the massing of troops along the Line of Actual Control, the external affairs minister said.

While he did not refer to “ buffer zones” directl y, Mr. Jaishankar said that “steps of a temporary and limited nature” had been taken in order to avoid further friction, and would be revisited “as the situation demands”.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, noting a positive shift in India-China relations. He admitted that the relationship has been strained since 2020 due to border tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). However, he emphasized that recent diplomatic efforts have begun to mend these ties.

S Jaishankar highlighted three essential principles that must be upheld at all times. The first principle emphasizes the strict respect and adherence to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) by both parties.

The disengagement process was completed in October after the two nations agreed for a mutual patrolling agreement on the friction points on the Line of Actual Control.

In his statement, Jaishankar gave an account of the background to the current border situation, with the sequence of events, the context of the Indian response and the Galwan clashes, the border infrastructure build-up, and the counter-deployment by the forces.

India’s foreign minster said New Delhi and Beijing will cautiously improve ties post-border conflict, focusing on national security and economic relations.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that bilateral relations between India and China have witnessed some improvement after disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.