For the first time ever, Corps Commander-level talks happened not in Ladakh; but in the East, at Wacha-Damai. Why does this matter? Because it’s not just about soldiers meeting; it’s about building trust beyond just one flashpoint. Behind this move? Tensions in Taksing, and a bigger political clock ticking before the BRICS Summit in Delhi. This isn’t a one-off. It’s part of a pattern: new hotlines, new meeting points, more dialogues; all signs that both sides are trying to avoid another Galwan. But here’s the catch; experts say it’s not enough. LAC perceptions still clash, infrastructure keeps growing, and friction can still spark. So yes, progress is being made. But peace? That’s still being negotiated; one meeting, one mountain ridge, at a time.