News Analysis India

Tag: India-China stand off

  • Army raises new Aviation Brigade to assist troops at LAC

    Express News Service

    MISSAMARI: The Indian Army has added a major aviation capability to the force with a new Aviation Brigade raised to look after the troops posted along the Line of Actual Control with Arunachal Pradesh.

    Confirming the development a source said, “Aviation Brigade with its three Squadrons was raised in March this year. It operates Advanced Light Helicopters, Cheetah and Heron Mk1 (Remotely Piloted Aircraft.” The Brigade operates from Missamari Army Aviation Base. Herons are used for surveillance and reconnaissance.

    Lt Col Amit Dadhwal of the Corps of Army Aviation said the Corps has evolved from a simple fixed-wing aircraft with basic avionics to state-of-the-art equipment that we have in the rotary platforms today in the form of Cheetah, Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH), ALH Weaponised System Integrated and Light Combat Helicopters.

    “These Rotary Wing platforms provide us and our leaders and commanders a plethora of capabilities so that we can achieve success in all kinds of operations,” added Lt Col Dadhwal. 

    Army Aviation plays a very crucial role both in peace and combat times. “The helicopters carry troops in full battle loads in any kind of treacherous terrain in any kind of weather conditions and are used for Casualty evacuations, induction and de-induction.”

    India shares 1346 km long LAC with China along the Eastern Sector.

    The Indian Army Chief had expressed worry about the troop buildup on the Chinese side and had said that India is ready to handle any situation. “Yes, it is a matter of concern that the large-scale build-up has occurred and continues to be in place, and to sustain that kind of a build-up, there has been an equal amount of infrastructure development on the Chinese side,” Gen Naravane said at a media conclave.

    “So, it means that they (PLA) are there to stay. We are keeping a close watch on all these developments, but if they are there to stay, we are there to stay too,” he said.

    Indian Army and Chinese PLA troops have been locked in a tense standoff position along Eastern Ladakh since May 2020. There have been 13 rounds of Corps Commander Level talks with standoff remaining unresolved at Hot Spring. Also, the long-term standoff continues at Depsang and Demchok. Meanwhile, the Chinese troops transgressed at multiple points in the recent past which includes that in Uttarakhand at Barahoti.

  • India, China troops engage in fresh stand-off at Arunachal’s Tawang; PLA men detained temporarily

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Indian and Chinese troops engaged in a brief face-off at LAC near Yangtse in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh last week. While it lasted for a few hours, Indian Army troops reportedly detained a few PLA soldiers. 

    Confirming the incident, a source said, “The troops of the Indian Army and the PLA happened to meet at LAC last week where a physical engagement took place. No damages were reported on either side. 

    The situation was finally resolved according to the established protocol as agreed by both sides.

    The face-off comes weeks after the incident at Barahoti in Uttarakhand in August when PLA troops crossed over to LAC on the Indian side on horses and remained there for a few hours before leaving. 

    The New Indian Express had earlier reported that there has been a continuing standoff in Eastern Ladakh where around 60000 troops are deployed along the LAC. Stand-offs at Hot Spring, Despang and Demochok still persist. Disengagement of troops along with their tanks, artillery and heavy vehicles has taken place from Galwan, Gogra and North and South banks of Pangong tso.

    Last year, physical scuffle took place Naku La pass area in Sikkim and Kalapani area which were resolved through dialogue between the local commanders of the two sides. 

    “The India and China border has not been formally demarcated and hence there is a differing perception of the LAC. Both sides undertake patrolling activities up to their line of perception,” the source quoted above said.

     The length of LAC is 3488 kms, as per the Ministry of Home Affairs, which is divided into three sectors of Eastern, Central and Western Sector. China has been claiming Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin as its territory. It has been staking claims on some other areas which India has maintained to be its land.