Disengagement over, ties with China improving: EAM

S JAISHANKAR'S STATEMENT IN LOK SABHA

- Shubhajit Roy, Divya A & Deeptiman Tiwary

In his first statement to Parliament since India and China reached an agreement in October on patrolling arrangements in the Depsang Plains and Demchok—two friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)—External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday that the "conclusion of disengagement" has set Delhi-Beijing ties "in the direction of some improvement".

"Recent developments that reflect our continuous diplomatic engagement...have set our ties in the direction of some improvement," Jaishankar said in a detailed statement in the Lok Sabha.

While "disengagement has now been achieved in full in Eastern Ladakh through a step-by-step process," he said, "the next priority will be to consider de-escalation, that would address the massing of troops along the LAC". In this context, he said the "Special Representatives and Foreign Secretary-level mechanisms will be convening soon".