MUMBAI — India and China will restart direct airline flights between the two countries by the end of the month, ending a five-year stoppage after deadly clashes between troops broke out along their joint border in the Himalayas.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday announced the resumption of airline traffic, describing it as part of the government’s approach toward gradually normalizing relations between New Delhi and Beijing.
“This agreement of the civil aviation authorities will further facilitate people-to-people contact between India and China, contributing towards the gradual normalization of bilateral exchanges,” Indian officials said in a statement.
Violent clashes between Indian and Chinese troops broke out in June 2020 along the northern border, known as the Line of Actual Control. The fighting resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers. The conflict was triggered by Beijing’s objections to Indian infrastructure projects in the area, including a new road in the Galwan Valley.
On Sept. 7, 2020, shots were fired along the border, the first such incident in 45 years. Officials in New Delhi and Beijing blamed each other for the gunfire.
The resumption of flights follows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China last month for a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional security pact. Mr. Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that they were partners in regional development, rather than mutual antagonists, officials said.
They discussed ways to increase trade amid international economic concerns caused by President Trump’s global tariff program. The resumption of direct flights between India and China was part of the high-level diplomatic discussions.
On Friday, regional airline IndiGo announced it would resume flights to China on Oct. 26, with direct flights to Guangzhou from Kolkata. The resumption of commercial air travel between the two countries will strengthen the company’s commitment to making air travel more accessible to its customers, IndiGo officials said in a post on X.
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.