• India's Defence Minister calls for a permanent solution to the border issue with China.
• The two nations share a heavily disputed 3,800 km border in the Himalayas.
• The meeting occurred on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation conference.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has urged for a "permanent solution" to the longstanding border dispute with China during a meeting with China's Dong Jun. This meeting took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers' gathering in Qingdao, where Singh emphasized the need for a structured roadmap to resolve the issues between the two nations, according to Reuters, Dawn, and Channel News Asia.

The two countries, both nuclear powers, share a 3,800 km largely undemarcated border that has been a historical flashpoint. Despite a peaceful frontier in recent years, a deadly clash in 2020 resulted in significant casualties, including 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers. This confrontation led to a four-year military standoff before a pact was reached in October to de-escalate tensions, as noted by Reuters, Dawn, and Channel News Asia.

During the discussions, Singh highlighted the need to overcome the trust deficit that has emerged since the 2020 standoff, reiterating the significance of building mutual confidence. The SCO serves as a crucial platform for dialogue among its ten member nations, which include major powers like China, Russia, and India, according to Reuters, Dawn, and Channel News Asia.