Context:
After a six-year suspension, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will restart in 2025, with about 750 Indian pilgrims set to travel to Tibet between June and August. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that the first batch will depart from Delhi on June 30, slightly later than the early June schedules of previous years.
Background
- The pilgrimage, initiated in 1981 under a bilateral agreement between India and China, was halted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Subsequent border tensions, including the Galwan Valley clashes, further delayed the resumption of the yatra.
Diplomatic Context
- The resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is seen as an important step towards normalizing India-China relations.
- Disengagement at friction points along the Line of Actual Control was completed in October 2024, but broader de-escalation talks are ongoing.
- Delhi and Beijing are also negotiating the restoration of direct flights, full resumption of visa services, and people-to-people exchanges including media and think tanks.
Significance
- The revival of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra signals a cautious but positive shift in India-China bilateral relations after years of strained ties.
