Even then they insisted that the entire border should be reviewed in a comprehensive settlement. On the whole, progress has been disappointing, with eleven rounds of the JWG having taken place to date, without any concrete results. Meanwhile, agreements to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas and the initiation of confidence building measures between the two in the early 1990s have contributed to improving the general ambience of the negotiations, further helped by the commitment to maintain the status quo pending settlement. It enjoined upon both sides to strictly adhere to and respect the LAC, which would, in no way, prejudice the respective positions of the two countries on the boundary question. It does seem therefore that the agreement on the LAC could be the first step towards a final settlement of the border.
Matters stand thus at present.
However keen the desire to normalize and improve relations, unless the border is settled, there can be no substantive change in the relationship.