India and China Conduct First High-Level Military Talks in Arunachal Pradesh

India and China have conducted their inaugural Senior Highest Military Commander-Level Flag Meeting in the Arunachal Pradesh sector, with discussions held on both sides of the border earlier this week. This meeting is part of ongoing efforts to maintain peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and to gradually enhance bilateral relations. The meeting took place at Wacha on the Indian side on September 6 and at Damai on the Chinese side on September 7, as confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

The talks were initiated following agreements reached during the Special Representatives dialogue between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in August 2025 and August 2026. These discussions were part of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination, which aims to address the India-China boundary dispute that spans 3,488 kilometers.

Jaiswal noted that the new military mechanism along the eastern frontier is crucial, especially in light of recent aggressive military posturing by Chinese troops along the LAC in the Upper Subansiri region of Arunachal Pradesh. He expressed optimism, stating that India-China relations are gradually moving in a positive direction.

During their latest dialogue, Doval and Wang discussed key issues such as boundary delimitation, trans-boundary cooperation, and the necessity of maintaining peace along the LAC. The Indian side underscored that peace and tranquility along the border are essential for the continued development of bilateral relations.

This military engagement comes just days before Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit India for the BRICS summit, marking a significant moment in the ongoing efforts to rebuild relations that had deteriorated sharply following the deadly clashes in Galwan Valley in 2020.