New Delhi, Oct 21 (UNI) India and China have come to an agreement regarding border patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday, hoping it would eventually resolve the issues that had come up in 2020.
Addressing his weekly press conference, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said: "As a result of the discussions that have taken place over the last several weeks an agreement has been arrived at on patroling arrangements along the line of actual control in the India-China border area and this is leading to dis-engagement and eventually a resolution of the issues that had arisen in these areas in 2020."
The Foreign Secretary's remarks came ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to the Russian city of Kazan to attend the BRICS summit.
India and China had engaged in a military stand-off in eastern Ladakh in early 2020 when Chinese soldiers crossed over and attacked Indian personnel.
Regarding the Prime Minister's visit to Russia, Misri said he will depart for Kazan on Tuesday to attend the summit at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The theme of this edition of BRICS is Strengthening Multilateralism for a Just Global Development and Security.
"India brings great value to BRICS and its contributions have played a vital role in shaping BRICS efforts in areas such as economic growth, sustainable development and global governance reform", he said.
Responding to a query about Indians engaged in the Russian army, the Foreign Secretary said, "Our embassy officials have been in close touch with the interlocutors in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defence of Russia on the issue of Indians who were illegally or otherwise contracted into fighting in the Russian army." He added that the matter was taken up at the highest level.
He informed that around 85 people have returned from Russia. The mortal remains of people who lost their lives during the conflict have also been returned.
"Nearly 20 people remain and we are pressing our interlocutors for the discharge of all remaining in the armed forces there," he said. UNI JA SSP