Winter thaw in Ladakh

Disengagement should not be seen as a sign of lasting peace

After a six-month standoff, the first hopeful signs of disengagement between the Indian and Chinese military in Ladakh appear to be emerging. To be sure, much of the current impulse for the pullback is driven by convenience for both sides as the winter sets in and the expense and effort of maintaining battle-ready troops at terrain over 13,000 feet, when the temperature drops below (-) 20 degrees Celsius, rise sharply. But the few details that are available suggest that the deal — this was the eighth round of talks between the two armed forces — is confined to the scenic