India announced on Thursday that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, suspended since 2020, is likely to resume soon, with preparations already underway.

The move is part of ongoing efforts to mend India-China relations following the resolution of a prolonged military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also confirmed an in-principle agreement to restore direct flight services between the two nations, with technical teams negotiating the modalities for an updated framework.

The resumption of the Yatra, a sacred pilgrimage for Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in Tibet, reflects a broader push to stabilize bilateral ties strained by the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes.

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“We will issue a public notice soon, and the Yatra is expected to take place this year,” Jaiswal said, noting that further details will be shared. The initiative follows the completion of troop disengagement at Demchok and Depsang, the last friction points in Ladakh, under an October 2024 pact.

Efforts to revive ties gained momentum after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan on October 23, 2024, which led to the reactivation of dialogue mechanisms, including the Special Representatives (SR) talks.

In December, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing, and in January, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held discussions with Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong. A March 2025 meeting in Beijing between Indian and Chinese officials further explored people-centric measures, including resuming direct flights and the Yatra, to foster mutual trust and cooperation.

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