Indian and Chinese troops exchanged sweets at the Hot Springs area in Eastern Ladakh on Thursday (October 31, 2024).
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

“Troops of India and China exchanged sweets at several border points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the occasion of Diwali on Thursday (October 31, 2024),” Army sources said.

The traditional practice was observed a day after both countries completed the disengagement at two friction points at Demchok and Depsang Plains in eastern Ladakh, bringing a fresh thaw in the Sino-Indian ties.

“The exchange of sweets between members of the troops of India and China took place at several border points along the LAC on the occasion of Diwali,” an Army source told PTI.

“The exchange took place at five Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) points along the LAC,” the sources added.

On Wednesday (October 30, 2024), an Army source said that troops of both sides had completed the disengagement at the two friction points and patrolling would commence soon at these points.

“The verification process after the disengagement was in progress and patrolling modalities were to be decided between ground commanders,” the source said then.

“Talks will continue at the local commander level,” the Army source added.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on October 21 in Delhi that an agreement was finalised between India and China following negotiations over the past several weeks and that it would lead to a resolution of the issues that arose in 2020.

The agreement was firmed up on patrolling and disengagement of troops along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, a breakthrough to end the over four-year standoff.