News Analysis India

Tag: India-China border

  • Incursions along Indo-Tibet border are by China, says Tibetan govt-in-exile

    By PTI

    KOLKATA:  Penpa Tsering, the Sikyong or President of the Tibetan Government-in-exile Tuesday asserted that all incursions along the Indo-Tibetan border have been one-sided and by China.

    In an interview with PTI, the President said since Tibet had signed the treaty of 1914 which set the border between his homeland and India along the McMohan line, Tawang was an integral part of India.

    “We know incursions are happening all from the Chinese side,” Tsering said here. He was speaking in the context of recent clashes at Tawang and at Ladakh between the Indian Army and China’s PLA.

    “Till 1959, there was no border between India and China; it was with Tibet. We are signatories to the 1914 Simla agreement and we recognise the McMohan line as the legitimate border,” he said.

    The Sikyong or President is directly elected by the Tibetan diaspora living in various parts of the world ever since Tibetan refugees fled the “roof of the world” in the wake of the Dalai Lama’s escape from Lhasa to India.

    “China’s belligerence is without any provocation from the Indian side,” the President said, adding that “India standing up to its position sends a very strong message to China.”

    He pointed out that China has disputes with many Asian countries and has been unwilling to settle them.

    “When it comes to US-China relations, they (the Chinese) complain they are not treated as equals but when it comes to other countries in Asia,” they never treat them equally, Tsering asserted.

    He claimed China has a policy of keeping hot spots like Taiwan and Tawang burning in order to divert attention to its own failings.

    He said that China had not been successful in keeping its economic momentum up and had not been able to control the Covid situation at home. “Now that the whole world has recovered, they want to export Covid again,” Tsering said.

    ALSO READ| China didn’t observe agreements with India, tried to ‘unilaterally change’ LAC: Jaishankar

    KOLKATA:  Penpa Tsering, the Sikyong or President of the Tibetan Government-in-exile Tuesday asserted that all incursions along the Indo-Tibetan border have been one-sided and by China.

    In an interview with PTI, the President said since Tibet had signed the treaty of 1914 which set the border between his homeland and India along the McMohan line, Tawang was an integral part of India.

    “We know incursions are happening all from the Chinese side,” Tsering said here. He was speaking in the context of recent clashes at Tawang and at Ladakh between the Indian Army and China’s PLA.

    “Till 1959, there was no border between India and China; it was with Tibet. We are signatories to the 1914 Simla agreement and we recognise the McMohan line as the legitimate border,” he said.

    The Sikyong or President is directly elected by the Tibetan diaspora living in various parts of the world ever since Tibetan refugees fled the “roof of the world” in the wake of the Dalai Lama’s escape from Lhasa to India.

    “China’s belligerence is without any provocation from the Indian side,” the President said, adding that “India standing up to its position sends a very strong message to China.”

    He pointed out that China has disputes with many Asian countries and has been unwilling to settle them.

    “When it comes to US-China relations, they (the Chinese) complain they are not treated as equals but when it comes to other countries in Asia,” they never treat them equally, Tsering asserted.

    He claimed China has a policy of keeping hot spots like Taiwan and Tawang burning in order to divert attention to its own failings.

    He said that China had not been successful in keeping its economic momentum up and had not been able to control the Covid situation at home. “Now that the whole world has recovered, they want to export Covid again,” Tsering said.

    ALSO READ| China didn’t observe agreements with India, tried to ‘unilaterally change’ LAC: Jaishankar

  • Family-led search team fails to trace missing mountaineer, returns

    By Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: A search team, made up of family members and others, returned from a mountain near the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh after failing to trace missing Everester Tapi Mra and his assistant Niku Dao. The two were reported missing in mid-August after they had embarked on scaling the Mount Kyarisatam, the state’s highest mountain peak located at an altitude of 6,890 metres.

    On October 7, a 15-member team of local mountaineers, family members and porters had left for the site weeks after the authorities called off a ground search by the Army mid-way due to inclement weather conditions. The second search team recovered mountaineering equipment and other belongings from a place 300-400 metres beyond Camp-2 but could not trace Mra and Dao, dead or alive. The team said the operation had to be concluded due to very bad weather.

    It said the snowcovered mountain diminished the chance of finding the footprints or any other clues. “We found the entire area covered with snow and the weather was very bad beyond Camp 2,” mountaineer Taru Hai, a member of the team, told local journalists. He was also a part of the first search operation conducted by the Army in September.

    He said the authorities had then allegedly did not allow the team to go beyond Camp 2. Earlier, the family of Mra had lamented that he was not given due respect by the state government, as evident from its “poorly-planned” search and rescue operation. “He (Mra) had set out for the mountain as part of his mission to promote mountaineering in the state,” his sister Yatok Mra Nilo had told journalists.

    GUWAHATI: A search team, made up of family members and others, returned from a mountain near the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh after failing to trace missing Everester Tapi Mra and his assistant Niku Dao. The two were reported missing in mid-August after they had embarked on scaling the Mount Kyarisatam, the state’s highest mountain peak located at an altitude of 6,890 metres.

    On October 7, a 15-member team of local mountaineers, family members and porters had left for the site weeks after the authorities called off a ground search by the Army mid-way due to inclement weather conditions. The second search team recovered mountaineering equipment and other belongings from a place 300-400 metres beyond Camp-2 but could not trace Mra and Dao, dead or alive. The team said the operation had to be concluded due to very bad weather.

    It said the snowcovered mountain diminished the chance of finding the footprints or any other clues. “We found the entire area covered with snow and the weather was very bad beyond Camp 2,” mountaineer Taru Hai, a member of the team, told local journalists. He was also a part of the first search operation conducted by the Army in September.

    He said the authorities had then allegedly did not allow the team to go beyond Camp 2. Earlier, the family of Mra had lamented that he was not given due respect by the state government, as evident from its “poorly-planned” search and rescue operation. “He (Mra) had set out for the mountain as part of his mission to promote mountaineering in the state,” his sister Yatok Mra Nilo had told journalists.

  • Resolution of eastern Ladakh row will facilitate bilateral relations: India-China joint statement

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: After another round of high-level military talks, India and China on Saturday affirmed that a resolution of the eastern Ladakh standoff would facilitate progress in bilateral relations besides helping restore peace in the region.

    The two sides also agreed to maintain security and stability on the ground in the region and continue the dialogue through military and diplomatic channels, said a joint statement issued a day after the 15th round of military talks to resolve the 22-month-long standoff at the remaining friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

    “The two sides carried forward their discussions from the previous round held on 12th January 2022 for the resolution of the relevant issues along the LAC in the Western Sector,” the joint statement said.

    “They had a detailed exchange of views in this regard, in keeping with the guidance provided by the State leaders to work for the resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest,” it said.

    It further said: “The reaffirmed that such a resolution would help restore peace and tranquillity along the LAC in the Western Sector and facilitate progress in bilateral relations” The two sides also agreed to maintain security and stability on the ground in the region.

    “They agreed to maintain dialogue via military and diplomatic channels to reach a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest,” the joint statement said.

  • We will have to be prepared to stay at LAC in Eastern Ladakh as long as required: Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane on Wednesday made it clear that while the Chinese have carried out a major enhancement of the troop level and permanent infrastructure build up it remains to be seen whether they will permanently garrison themselves there or they will de-induct in the time to come. And, till then we will have to be prepared to stay.

    Replying to the question of TNIE that whether the Chinese PLA was preparing for permanent deployment Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane addressing the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Press Conference 2022 told, “Amassing of large forces by the Chinese in Eastern Ladakh is the root cause of the situation which developed. Now that they are there and they have made a lot of infrastructure it remains to be seen whether they will permanently garrison themselves there or they will be amenable to some kind of de-induction in times to come.”

    The Army Chief said that the reaching de-indcution will pass through several processes. But, before we reach that level, “we will have to be prepared to stay there as long as it required.”

    As far as the ongoing situation is concerned it will have to follow a few laid out steps. Firstly, it will be dis-engagement, then we can think of a little bit of de-scalation and by that (it means) moving back from being bang on LAC to the areas in depth areas but remaining in the general areas.

    “Once this kind of confidence is built up then we can think of de-induction wherein the troops can go in their permanent garrison.” 

    But, it has to be done mutually, the chief pointed out.

    Talking about the overall border situation Naravane said,the situation that existed last January, “I think we can say, there have been positive developments, both along our Northern and Western Borders in the last one year.”

    The 14th round of talks between the Indian and Chinese Corps Commanders was underway as the Chief was briefing the media.

    “Good thing that talks are going on, it shows that we can resolve our differences through dialogue. Each time we talk we narrow down to the issues, that is why this mechanism is important,” Chief brought out.

    To expect every round of talks to have an outcome is also quite unreasonable, number of rounds will be required to deal with the situation, Chief clarified, “We are hopeful that we will be able to resolve the issue of PP 15 (Hot Springs), the one which is pending as of now. Once that is done, we will go to other issues that predate the current standoff.”

    The other issues include the Depsang and Demchok standoffs.

    But while there has been partial disengagement, the Chief made it clear that “the threat has by no means reduced.”

    Force levels, in areas where dis-engagement is yet to take place, have been adequately enhanced with around 60,000 troops from both sides deployed in Eastern Ladakh and there has been few positives of the surprise standoff which began in May 2020.

    Keeping the incumbent situation, “Up-gradation and development of infrastructure, along the Northern Borders, is being carried out in a holistic, and comprehensive manner, including roads & tunnels, for all weather connectivity, Strategic Railway Lines, additional bridges across the Brahmaputra, up-gradation of bridges on critical, Indo-China Border Roads, and storage for supplies, fuel and ammunition. Major efforts have also been undertaken to identify dual use infrastructure,” said Army Chief.

    Talking about the Line of Control, “after a heightened situation for a prolonged period, the DGMOs Understanding, in February last year, was aimed at achieving mutually beneficial, and sustainable peace, along the LC. Resultantly, the situation has witnessed marked improvement.”

    Indian Army has resolved to show ‘Zero Tolerance’ to terror, and commit ourselves to extract dire costs, should that be forced upon us. There has been, “increase in concentration of terrorists in launch pads, across the LC and repeated infiltration attempts, once again expose their nefarious intents.”

    Elaborating on the situation in the North-Eastern General Naravane said “it remained under control”.

    Which has led to a graduated de-induction, of around two divisions from the counter terrorist duty to their primary duties.

    Chief, said that the crisis on the Northern Borders also had a silver lining. “We have used this crisis as an opportunity to fast-track infrastructure development, undertake doctrinal reviews and make-up operational voids, through Emergency and Fast Track Procurements.”

  • ITBP deploys own engineering wing to construct Indo-China border roads, foot tracks

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has taken a first-time decision to deploy its specialised engineering wing for constructing certain roads and foot tracks along the Line of Actual Control to speed up connectivity projects with its posts in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.

    The move, which was approved by the Union home ministry, comes amid a military standoff with China in the eastern Ladakh area.

    Official sources told PTI that the border force, ITBP, has taken up the “challenge” to construct four out of the 32 roads under phase-II of the India-China Border Roads project and two out of the total 18 foot tracks sanctioned to it by the government.

    They said the roads of varying lengths of about one to two kilometres, connecting ITBP border posts in the Himalayan ranges, are in the Ladakh region’s 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China while the foot tracks, which are used by troops during patrols, are in the Arunachal Pradesh area.

    The engineers and supervisors of the ITBP wing will “plan and monitor” the entire work, and a ground force comprising labourers and masons will be hired according to government norms, sources said.

    Traditionally, road construction projects along these areas are carried out by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and other such agencies.

    Officials said the engineering wing of the force, an essential component of the ITBP since its raising in 1962, has been roped in for the task in order to speed up the border posts connectivity work.

    In these high-altitude and remote areas, getting contractors and construction workers is not that easy and hence, the work of border road construction remains slow, an officer explained.

    The government has stressed on the need to ensure connectivity through roads so that rations, transportation of troops and other logistics along the LAC can be easily moved.

    Therefore, this maiden attempt of engaging the ITBP engineering wing has been made, he said.

    The ITBP engineering wing, restructured over the years, is tasked to “take care of the construction of operational structures, including border outposts, residential and office buildings, solar lightings, power units and water heating systems, improvised micro-hydel power projects and green houses in snow-clad border areas apart from devising strategic defences around a border post.”

    Currently, the government has initiated the phase-II of the Indo-China Border Roads (ICBR) project that covers several roads, foot tracks and border posts.

    The first phase of ICBR was launched in 2005 under the overall supervision of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and work on a number of roads, helipads and troop bases of this period is underway.

    According to official data, 538.50 kilometres of road have been laid along the China border till November last year.

    Union Minister of State for Home affairs Nityanand Rai had recently said during the 60th ITBP raising day on October 24 that the process to sanction new border battalions for the ITBP is in the “last stages”.

    He was referring to the last year central government sanction of 47 new border posts and a dozen staging camps (operational bases for troops undertaking border patrol) to the mountain-warfare trained paramilitary force.

    The about 90,000 personnel-strong ITBP was raised in the aftermath of the 1962 Chinese aggression.

  • Amid increased Chinese deployment along LAC, Indian Army holds conference of top brass

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: A conference of the top brass of the Indian Army began on Monday in New Delhi to brainstorm the security situation at the Line of Actual Control and the Line of Control with Pakistan, among other issues.

    A senior Army officer said, “All operational matters were discussed today and also the promotion of senior officers from Major General to Lieutenant General.”

    The conference will continue for the next three days to chart the future course for the Indian Army in the backdrop of the situation along the borders and the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Army Chief General MM Naravane had recently expressed concern over the situation along the Line of Control. On the western border, the DGs of Military Operations of India and Pakistan had agreed to a ceasefire in February this year. 

    ALSO READ: China has no right to interfere with reincarnation process of Dalai Lama: Tawang Monastery head lama

    As reported by The New Indian Express, General Naravane said, “The Chinese have deployed (their forces) in considerable numbers across Eastern Ladakh and up to the eastern command. There has been an increase in the deployment and it is a matter of concern for us. We are also carrying out matching developments in terms of infrastructure and deployment of troops. We are poised to meet any eventuality.”

    The Army Commanders’ Conference is an apex level biannual event held in April and October every year. The conference is an institutional platform for conceptual level deliberations, culminating in important policy decisions for the Indian Army. The Army Chief, the seven Army Commanders and the Vice Chief of Army meet during the conference. Other senior officers including the Principal Staff Officers and the DGs of the Directorates are called in to share their inputs as per the requirements.

    The conference is also a formal forum for the senior leadership of the Indian Army to interact with senior officials of the Department of Military Affairs and Department of Defence.

    During the conference, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will address and interact with the Army Commanders. The Chief of Defence Staff and the Chiefs of the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force are also scheduled to address the senior leadership of the Indian Army on avenues for promoting tri-service synergy.

  • India needs to address consequences of instability in neighbourhood: CDS General Bipin Rawat

    By PTI

    GUWAHATI: Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on Saturday stressed that the country needs to ensure that the consequences of instability in its neighbourhood are addressed.He also said there is a possibility of threat to Jammu and Kashmir as well as to the North-eastern region due to the situation in Afghanistan which the Taliban has taken over a few months ago but the threat can be negated by working on internal monitoring.

    “India’s national security landscape is stressed on account of security scenario emerging from subcontinental threats…We need to address consequences of instability and volatility in our immediate and extended neighbourhood and it remains our immediate priority,” Gen Rawat said.

    ALSO READ: Danger to stability in South Asia due to China’s ambitions, Sino-Pak nexus ‘anti-Indian’, says CDS General Bipin Rawat

    Delivering the first Ravi Kant Singh Memorial Lecture here, he said a close watch should be kept on the situation in Myanmar as well as the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, with the danger of the latter being exploited by fundamentalist elements.

    He also said India’s relations with Bhutan and Nepal have always been robust and any issues with these countries have been addressed in a positive manner.

    Gen Rawat said internal security challenges of the NE region have serious international dimensions as extremist outfits have connectivity, including hideouts across the border, and their members frequently use porous borders to escape security forces.

    ALSO READ: China’s tech advances in cyber, space domains most worrisome, says CDS General Bipin Rawat

    He, however, added that in recent years there has been a reduction of violence in the NE region and lauded the combined efforts of security agencies and civil society for achieving it.

    Gen Rawat said it was crucial that the land link of the region with the rest of the country is maintained through the Siliguri corridor.

    This vulnerable corridor will always remain a cause of concern and any attempt to block it by any element must be nipped in the bud, he added.

    ALSO READ: Procuring advanced surveillance systems is Indian armed forces’ topmost priority, says CDS Bipin Rawat

    “India has to be on alert of the possible impact of the situation in Afghanistan in Jammu and Kashmir. We have to seal our borders. Internal monitoring is essential,” he told a press conference.

    To a question if the change in regime in Afghanistan could pose danger to Assam and the Northeast, Rawat said a ‘likely threat’ could be there.

    “We have to defend ourselves. We need to educate our people on the need to be conscious of their own security,” he said.

    ALSO READ: India’s armed forces are ready to deal with any security challenge, says CDS Bipin Rawat

    The North-eastern region, especially Assam, is advantageously positioned to project India’s soft power to the world, the chief of defence staff said.

    “North East region including Assam is a land of potential. In fact, it has the potential to be the pivot for projection of soft power of India in the regional countries,” Gen Rawat said.

    He stressed the need for developing multi-model connectivity through development of means of transportations to access ASEAN and other markets.

    He also highlighted the potential of developing the manufacturing and services sector in the NE region, which can help it cater to the international market.

  • Danger to stability in South Asia due to China’s ambitions, Sino-Pak nexus ‘anti-Indian’: CDS General Bipin Rawat

    By PTI

    GUWAHATI: Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on Saturday said that China’s ambitions and aspirations to global power presented an “omnipresent danger” to stability in South Asia.

    China is making “huge” inroads in South Asia and in the Indian Ocean region to strengthen its position as an emerging global power he said, while delivering the first Ravi Kant Singh Memorial Lecture here.

    “Of late, we are witnessing a geo-strategic competition and huge investment by China in the region to create a favourable posture to provide sufficient security to its interests,” he said.

    Bangladesh and Myanmar have been the largest recipients of Chinese military aid in the recent past, along with significant investments in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives “to gain strategic foothold (in the region),” he said.

    ALSO READ: China’s tech advances in cyber, space domains most worrisome, says CDS General Bipin Rawat

    He added that China’s foray into Myanmar and Bangladesh are not in India’s national interest as these are attempts to ‘engulf India’.

    The lecture was organised in memory of Ravi Kant Singh, a young IPS officer who was killed by ULFA terrorists in Tinsukia in Assam in the late 1990s.

    “There exists an omnipresent danger of regional strategic instability,” Rawat said, adding that it has the potential of ‘threatening India’s territorial integrity and strategic importance’.

    The General also said Pakistan’s state sponsored terrorism as well as by non-state actors against India is a stumbling block to peace process between the two countries.

    ALSO READ: Procuring advanced surveillance systems is Indian armed forces’ topmost priority: CDS Bipin Rawat

    He described the ‘partnership’ between Pakistan and China on a range of issues, from China providing military hardware to Pakistan and supporting it in international fora, as an ‘anti-India nexus’.

    Later addressing a press conference, the chief of defence staff said border issues with China has to be viewed in its totality, and not as issues pertaining to the Ladakh sector or North Eastern states.

    “In 2020, there was a little bit of problem (between India and China). Issues are being resolved with talks at different levels, from military to political level,” he said.

    Rawat also said such issues have copped up in the past too between the two neighbours, but have been resolved.

    ALSO READ: India’s armed forces are ready to deal with any security challenge, says CDS Bipin Rawat

    “There are suspicions between the two countries, and hence, it takes time to resolve the issues. The people must have faith and confidence in the system and the armed forces,” he added.

    He said as a measure to counter China’s influence in the region, India has to step up its engagement in neighbouring countries.

    He said, “Chinese have a habit of using money power to gain popularity in a country (they are trying to influence). But as our prime minister has given a clarion call, we believe in security and growth for all.”

    “We have to tell our neighbours that we are here as permanent friends and engage with them on equal terms and we consider all neighbours as equal partners in development,” he added.

    Rawat also emphasized on the need to exploit cultural linkages with the neighbouring countries to strengthen ties.

    On the country’s defence preparedness, Rawat said, “We are standing strong.”

    He said there is adequate defence and arms systems at India’s disposal, and the government has allowed the armed forces to procure needed armaments by invoking emergency powers.

    “No questions are being asked (by the government) as long as our security mechanism improves,” he added.

    Commenting on the recent violence against security forces as well as civilians in Jammu and Kashmir, Rawat said, “Our western adversary (Pakistan) is indulging in a proxy war with us. They will do anything to disturb peace in Jammu and Kashmir.”

    He also said the killings in Jammu & Kashmir were an attempt by the neighbouring country to spread fear among the people.

    “We should not fear them or fall prey to such traps,” he said, adding that any possible exodus of people from J&K should be stopped.

    To counter Pakistan’s designs, the chief of defence staff said the intelligence network is being strengthened.

    Rawat added that the freedom of movement that people in Jammu & Kashmir were starting to enjoy in recent times may be disrupted due to the current situation and urged for people’s cooperation in tackling the situation.

  • China’s tech advances in cyber, space domains most worrisome: CDS General Bipin Rawat

    By PTI

    BENGALURU: Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on Friday said India faces a myriad of external security challenges and most worrisome are China’s technological advances in the cyber and space domains.

    He was speaking at the three-day Indian Air Force Conclave, that was inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at Yelahanka Air Force Station here, to commemorate 50-years of victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, which is being celebrated this year as ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’.

    “India faces a myriad of external security challenges with deep regional interlinkages, marred by legacy of unresolved boundary disputes, culture of competition, and challenge to undermining India’s strategic space,” Rawat said.

    ALSO READ: Procuring advanced surveillance systems is Indian armed forces’ topmost priority: CDS Bipin Rawat

    He said, India is also witnessing geo-strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, including race for strategic bases in the Indian Ocean region, and increasing militarisation of Belt and Road outposts in the region by northern adversary China.

    “Most worrisome are China’s technological advances in the spheres of cyber and space domain, which often transcend beyond the military, to include critical national infrastructure as well,” he said, adding that the recent incidents on the northern borders along with aggressive posturing will remain a cornerstone of China’s expansionist foreign policy of which India has to always be wary about.

    On Pakistan, the CDS said that its continued sponsoring of cross border terrorism, a vicious anti-India rhetoric on social media, and efforts to create social disharmony within India, makes the trust gap between India and that county appear to be “unbridgeable”.

    Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, and Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka, among others, were present at the event.

    ALSO READ: India’s armed forces are ready to deal with any security challenge, says CDS Bipin Rawat

    Pointing at how things have changed in the world since 1971, Ajay Kumar stressed the need to be prepared “manyfold more”, to face today’s security scenario.

    Noting that the situation in Galwan was effectively controlled by prompt and effective action by India’s armed forces, he, however, said the position on the LAC continues to be tense, and the fact that India’s adversary continues to ramp up both infrastructure and assets across the border remains a matter of concern.

    “We continue to see increased activities of China and disputes which it is unilaterally claiming to be its own in the South China sea,” he said, as he also spoke about cross border proxy war and facilitation of terrorism, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, by Pakistan, and the situation in Afghanistan having potential for new challenges which could happen at any point of time.

    Kumar, also highlighting that China has moved towards jointness and theatre commands, said, it has spelt out in its operational doctrine that it wants to be “no more a regional power, but a world class military power.”

    China has aimed for itself to complete military modernisation by 2035 and to be a world class military by 2049, he said.

    Pointing out at the changes in the way war is fought with new technologies by influencing cyber and space, he said, “today we have non-conventional ways of fighting war and we need to be prepared for it.”

    The Defence Secretary also said “Air Force has been taking up modernisation in the last 4-5 years. In the last 5 years Rs 2. 5 Lakh crores has been spent on modernisation of the Indian Air Force.”

  • Sela tunnel in Arunachal to ensure better movement of troops and weaponry: Officials

    Another senior official said that the tunnel will help in quicker movement of troops and weapons and it has strategic significance.