India and China to Resume Direct Flights
In the most significant sign of improving relations in years, India and China are set to resume direct flight services as early as next month. The Indian government has reportedly asked major carriers like Air India and IndiGo to be prepared to restart operations to China, ending a four-year suspension of direct air connectivity between the two nations.
Thawing of a Four-Year Freeze
Direct flights were halted during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, their resumption was delayed indefinitely due to the sharp deterioration in bilateral ties following the deadly Galwan Valley military clash in June 2020. That incident led to a prolonged military standoff in eastern Ladakh and a deep freeze in diplomatic and economic relations. While military disengagement has occurred in some areas, the resumption of flights marks a major step towards normalizing people-to-people and business exchanges.
Diplomatic Overtures
This move comes at a crucial diplomatic juncture. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Tianjin later this month for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, his first trip to China since 2019. The restoration of air links ahead of this high-level visit is being seen as a carefully calibrated step by both countries to ease tensions and create a more positive atmosphere for dialogue. The decision signals a mutual interest in moving beyond the recent years of hostility and rebuilding a more stable relationship.
Image source: Sakshi
