It was the latest thaw in relations between the two countries, whose troops were involved in deadly skirmishes high in the Himalayas in 2020.

India and China have agreed to resume direct air services after nearly five years, India's foreign ministry said on Monday, signalling a thaw in relations between the neighbours after a deadly 2020 military clash on their disputed Himalayan border.

From resumption of direct flights between both countries, to supporting China’s presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and allowing Indian pilgrims to visit Kailash Mansarovar, India and China have gone the whole hog to “stabilise and rebuild” ties nearly five years after the military standoff began at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in April 2020 and led to the bloody Galwan Valley clash in June that year.