Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Likely to Resume Soon; India, China Agree In-Principle on Flight Services
In a significant development pointing toward a thaw in India-China relations, the Indian government has announced that preparations are underway for the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which has been suspended since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and military tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
On Thursday, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that there is a strong possibility of the yatra resuming soon. He added that a formal public notice will be issued shortly and that preparations for the pilgrimage are already in motion.
“The Yatra will happen this year, and we are making preparations. More information will be put out for the public soon,” Jaiswal said.
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra holds deep religious significance for Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists. Pilgrims undertake a challenging journey to the sacred Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar located in Tibet, which are believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva.
In another positive step, Jaiswal said that India and China have agreed in principle to resume direct flight services between the two countries, which have remained suspended for more than four years.
“In principle, both countries have agreed that flight operations will resume,” Jaiswal stated. “Technical teams from both sides are working on the arrangements. The two civil aviation authorities have met and are discussing the modalities, including the updated framework.”
These developments come amid a series of diplomatic efforts by both countries to stabilise and rebuild bilateral relations, which have been under severe strain since the Galwan Valley clashes in 2020. The over-four-year military standoff along the LAC, especially in eastern Ladakh, led to a freeze in several engagement mechanisms, including people-to-people exchanges.
However, relations appear to be cautiously improving. India and China recently completed disengagement at the two remaining friction points in Demchok and Depsang, under a framework agreed upon during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan in October 2023.
Following that breakthrough, there has been a series of diplomatic engagements, including a visit by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to Beijing in December, where he held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi under the Special Representatives (SR) dialogue framework.
In January, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Beijing and held talks with his counterpart Sun Weidong. During that meeting, both sides agreed to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and take steps to stabilise bilateral ties, including restarting dialogue mechanisms in a phased manner.
A recent meeting in Beijing between Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs (East Asia Division), and Liu Jinsong, Director General of the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Asian Affairs Department, also focused on people-centric measures such as the yatra and direct flights.
With the formal announcement of the yatra expected soon, thousands of spiritual seekers across India await the opportunity to once again undertake this sacred journey. The resumption of direct flight services and cultural exchanges signals a cautious yet optimistic turn in India-China relations.
IT.
