News Analysis India

Tag: India-China standoff

  • 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.

  • Indian Army’s Parachute Brigade conducts Airborne insertion exercise along LAC in Ladakh

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Indian Army on Monday began an exercise of its highly specialised troops of the Airborne Shatrujeet Brigade (50 Parachute Brigade) along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh which happens to be the zone where they are locked in protracted standoffs with the Chinese PLA.

    “The Shatrujeet Brigade of Indian Army is conducting an Airborne insertion along the Northern Borders in Eastern Ladakh to validate its Rapid Response Capabilities, as part of an Airborne exercise and combat manoeuvres,” a source said.

    The exercise is a part of an overall three-day affair focusing on high altitude area Airborne Exercise along Northern Borders. Other arms and services are also participating.

    “The exercise also involves the conduct of Oxygen Combat Free Fall jumps and integrated battle drills by Airborne forces, mechanised columns and attack helicopters, validating capabilities and seamless integration.” added the source quoted above.

    Talking about the first day of the exercise the sources said, “On 01 November 2021, Airborne troops were inserted to a Drop Zone at an altitude of more than 14000 feet. Pre-acclimatised troops along with specialist vehicles and missile detachments were transported via C-130 and AN 32 aircrafts from five different mounting bases to validate inter-theatre move, precision stand-off drops, rapid grouping & capture of designated objectives with speed & surprise.”

    The exercise being conducted is challenging keeping the low temperatures of up to minus 20 degrees and rarefied atmosphere in super high-altitude terrain.

    The elements of the brigade have the flexibility and can be inserted, even behind the enemy lines, and gives strategic reach and operational mobility, added another source.

    Viewing the exercise as important Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia (retd) said, “It’s a very effective deterrence capability and a threat-in-being China’s aggressive behaviour along LAC.” Lt General Bhatia is himself a paratrooper and was the DG Military Operations of the Army.

    The situation along the Line of Actual Control changed with Chinese troops engaging in a standoff in May 2020. Keeping the change in situation Indian Army conducted a precautionary deployment all along the LAC. Although there has been disengagement from the standoff points at Galwan, Gogra and North and South Banks of Pangong Lake the situation remains precarious. The standoffs continue at Hotspring, Depsang and Demchok.

    Though the troops have disengaged they have retreated back and around 60,000 troops from each side continue deployed near the 832-kilometre-long LAC in Ladakh. The Chinese showed disagreement with the Indian suggestions regarding the resolution during the 13th round of Corps Commanders meeting held on October 10. This meeting was held after a gap of two months.  

    The deployments of the forces along with their tanks, artillery, heavy equipment and missiles along the Eastern Ladakh are being viewed to be for a long time. Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane said in October, “It is a matter of concern that there is a large scale build-up taking place….there has been infrastructural build-up by the Chinese side and that means they are there to stay…If they are there to stay, we are there to stay too.”.

  • 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.

  • We shouldn’t expect favourable outcome in every round of border talks with China: Army Chief

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India should not expect favourable outcome in every round of talks being held with China to settle border issues and “points of divergence” with the neighbouring country will be resolved as long as both the nations keep talking, Army Chief General MM Naravane said on Thursday.

    “There were 4-5 points of friction (between India and China during the border talks) and we have resolved all but one. I am sure in another couple of rounds — I can’t give a definitive figure whether one more or two more — we will be able to resolve these issues also as we proceed,” Gen Naravane said.

    Earlier this month, India and China failed to make any headway in resolving the 17-month standoff in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh during the 13th round of military talks between the two countries.

    The Indian Army had on October 11 stated the “constructive suggestions” made by it at the 13th round of military talks were neither agreeable to the Chinese side nor Beijing could provide any “forward-looking” proposals.

    In an interaction at a defence conclave here, the Army Chief said that the situation at the eastern Ladakh border with China is better and more stable now from what existed almost a year ago.

    India and China have had a number of rounds of talks and as a result of those talks, we have been able to achieve a fair amount of disengagement, he added.

    “What I would like to put across is that we should not expect a favourable outcome in every round of talks. There are always going to be some points of convergence, some differences,” he said.

    “As long as we keep talking, we will be able to resolve those points of divergence and come closer and closer together and by and by resolve all the issues that are there,” the Army Chief said.

    The current border standoff between the Indian and Chinese armies erupted in May last year following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area.

    Both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.

    Gen Naravane said the talks and the interlocutions with China are taking place at the political plane, at the diplomatic level and at the military level.

    “So once all of this is put together and I am sure we will be able to come up with a satisfactory resolution. And when I say satisfactory, it has to be satisfactory for both the sides and I am confident that will happen sooner or later,” he said.

    He asserted that the Indian Army was not for a moment letting its guard down or imagining that things can not worsen in the future.

    “It is always our hope that all the differences can be resolved through dialogues and discussions but if that is not there and if the situation is forced upon us, then we are always ready to man our borders and protect our territorial integrity and sovereignty and that is a year-round affair,” he said.

    “It is not as if it is only during the summer months…we are 24×7 always ready to take on whatever is thrown at us,” he added.

    As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, India and China completed the disengagement process in the Gogra area in August and in the north and south banks of the Pangong lake in February.

    As far as the last year or so is concerned, the two Cs — China and COVID-19 — did take up most of the Indian Army’s time, the Army Chief said.

    “Because of the challenges that were happening on the eastern Ladakh, we did have to mobilise a large number of forces in a very short time span but we were able to achieve that once again because of very good synergy between services,” he said.

    He also thanked the Indian Air Force because of whom the Indian Army were able to mobilise forces in a short span to eastern Ladakh.

    “I think it is the speed of our mobilisation and the speed with which we could induct forces over such difficult terrain and such difficult climatic conditions…that caught our adversary little bit by surprise and we were able to stabilise the situation,” he said.

  • India hopes China will work with it to bring satisfactory resolution to current issues: Foreign Secretary

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Asserting that peace and tranquillity in the border areas is a “sine qua non” for India and China to work together, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Thursday said New Delhi hopes that Beijing will work with it to bring a satisfactory resolution to the current issues, keeping in view each other’s sensitivities and interests.

    In his remarks at a seminar on “Leveraging China’s Economy”, Shringla also said the developments along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh have “seriously disturbed” the peace and tranquillity in border areas, and this has obviously had an impact on the broader relationship too.

    The foreign secretary also referred to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s remarks that the ability of India and China to work together will determine the Asian century.

    “For this to materialise, peace and tranquillity in the border areas is a sine qua non. He (Jaishankar) has also clearly articulated that development of our ties can only be based on mutuality — mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests should guide this process,” Shringla said.

    “We hope that the Chinese side will work with us to bring a satisfactory resolution to the current issues so as to make progress on our bilateral relations keeping in view each other’s sensitivities, aspirations and interests,” the foreign secretary said.

    The border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5 last year following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.

    As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in the Gogra area in August and in the north and south banks of the Pangong lake in February.

    Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the sensitive sector, according to sources.

    In his remarks, Shringla also talked about the issues of concerns in the Sino-India trade relationship such as the widening trade deficit and increase in trade barriers.

    “China is our largest neighbour. With its GDP reaching USD 14.7 trillion in 2020, China’s economy is the second-largest in the world. Under the shadow of ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, China is the only major economy to have registered positive growth in 2020,” he said.

    Being the largest contributor to world trade and our largest trading partner, it is imperative for us to have a better understanding of China’s economy, Shringla said.

    He noted that India’s relations generally followed a positive trajectory since 1988 when the two country’s re-established contacts at the highest level.

    “We were engaged in developing a broad-based bilateral relationship. The advancement of ties in this period was clearly predicated on ensuring that peace and tranquillity were not disturbed. The areas of cooperation were not limited to bilateral but also had regional and global dimensions,” he said.

    It was also recognised that relations between India and China were in the interest of not only our two countries but also in the interest of peace, stability and security in the region and world at large, Shringla said at the seminar organised by the Centre for Contemporary China Studies.

    Noting that last year, the total trade volume between the two countries was around USD 88 billion, Shringla said in the first nine months of this year, the bilateral trade touched USD 90 billion, an increase of 49 per cent over last year.

    “At this rate, we are likely to attain the highest ever bilateral trade between two countries,” he said.

    The trade, however, remains unbalanced with a large trade balance in favour of China, Shringla said.

    “Our trade deficit concerns are two-fold the first is the actual size of the deficit. The trade deficit for the nine months period stood at USD 47 billion. This is the largest trade deficit we have with any country. Second, is the fact that the imbalance has continuously been widening,” the foreign secretary said.

    There are a number of market access impediments including a whole host of non-tariff barriers, for most of our agricultural products and the sectors we are competitive in, such as pharmaceutical, IT/ITES, etc., he said.

    “We have highlighted that widening deficit and increase in trade barriers are issues of concern. These have been regularly flagged at the highest level, most recently at the 2nd Informal Summit between our Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and the Chinese President in Chennai in 2019,” Shringla said.

    He also said the government remains firm in its commitment to place this trade relationship on a more sustainable footing and raising these issues at all appropriate occasions with the Chinese side.

    Developments since then, including the COVID-19 pandemic, have not been helpful in our efforts to address these concerns, Shringla said.

    “Furthermore, the developments along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh have seriously disturbed the peace and tranquillity in border areas. This has obviously had an impact on the broader relationship too,” he said.

    “Even as we continue to pursue these issues with China, we also need to do work at home. That is why, Atmanirbhar Bharat — an India with greater capabilities not just helping itself but being a force for good in the international arena, becomes important,” Shringla said.

    He asserted that the digital economy is now an integral part of India’s development story.

  • Increasing activities by China in depth areas of eastern sector: Eastern Army Commander

    By PTI

    RUPA: China has increased the intensity of military exercises and deployment of troops in its depth areas opposite the Arunachal Pradesh sector and India has correspondingly readied contingency plans to deal with any eventualities, Eastern Army Commander Lt.Gen.Manoj Pande said on Tuesday.

    The commander also asserted that the Indian preparedness to respond to any contingency is of a “very high order”.

    Lt.Gen.Pande said both sides are attempting to develop infrastructure closer to the Line of Actual Control(LAC) and that creates certain issues at times.

    “Since the infrastructure has come up close to the LAC, there has been a marginal increase in border defence troops,” he told a group of visiting journalists.

    Lt.Gen.Pande said Chinese military exercises are joint operations among various arms of its defence forces that are carried out under an integrated approach and there was an increase in the intensity and duration of the drills.

    He said new villages have come up on the Chinese side of the border in certain areas and India has taken note of it in its operational strategy as the habitats could be used for military purpose as well.

    The commander overseeing the Indian Army’s operational readiness along the over 1,300-km-long LAC in the eastern theatre also said its Mountain Strike Corps has now been fully operationalised and it has carried out validation and integrated training with other formations.

    “All its units, the combat units, the combat support and the logistics units have been fully equipped.”

    Giving an account of India’s overall military modernisation, Lt.Gen.Pande said that an in-principle approval has been given to new combat formations called the Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) which can mobilise fast with a more effective approach.

    The IBGs will comprise a mix of infantry, artillery, air defence, tanks and logistics units and the new set up is expected to revamp the Army’s war fighting capabilities, particularly along the borders with China and Pakistan.

    “We are looking at the IBG model for the Mountain Strike Corps essentially so that we have better option for its deployment,” he said.

    On Chinese activities in the eastern sector, he said there has been a marginal increase in its deployment of troops in some areas.

    “The annual training exercise that the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) carries out has seen some increase in the level of activities in the depth areas. Some of the reserve formations which the PLA mobilised continue to remain in their training areas that are in the operational depth areas,” he added.

    “The areas of exercise are in depth of LAC and these are their traditional training areas and the focus, as per inputs available to us, has been integrated joint operations between various arms of their defence forces.”

    The commander said India has taken a number of steps and the foremost among them is enhancing surveillance both close to the LAC and the depth areas by synergising all surveillance resources right from the strategic level to the tactical level.

    “We have adequate forces that are available in each sector to deal with any contingency that may arise. We are practising and rehearsing various contingencies that may arise,” he said.

    Asked about the recent agreement between China and Bhutan to resolve their decades-old boundary dispute and whether it will impact India’s strategic interests in the areas around Doklam tri-junction, the Army Commander did not give a direct reply but said authorities concerned in the government must have taken correct note of it and would be acting accordingly.

    On China’s violation of various border agreements and protocols that triggered the eastern Ladakh standoff, Lt.Gen.Pande indicated that the issue is being discussed at a higher level.

    “In terms of our larger guidance, strategic guidance in terms of dealing with situation on the LAC is to respect the mutually agreed protocols and agreements, and that has been our effort, notwithstanding what has been the action or response from the other side,” he said.

    “Consequent to what happened and what we need to do in the future, is something I reckon is being looked into at the larger level.”

    The senior commander also said that a fourth hotline between the two sides in the sector has been activated recently.

    Asked about Chinese activities in Doklam, where the armies of India and China were locked in a 73-day standoff in 2017, Lt.Gen.Pande said both sides are fully aware of the sensitivities of each other in the area.

    “I would say in terms of increase in troops level, there has not been any major increase and the infrastructure remained what it was earlier,” he said.

    On Aspahila, another disputed area, he said some infrastructure development close to the Chinese side of the LAC in terms of setting up of habitats was observed and that led to deployment of more number of troops.

    On the situation in Naku La in North Sikkim region, he said these are areas where patrolling teams come face-to-face and there are standard drills to resolve the issues.

    “At times the face-offs last a little longer but they are resolved as per laid down norms,” he said.

    Lt.Gen.Pande further said that military equipment under emergency procurement are being procured for the eastern theatre just like the way such systems are inducted into the formations in eastern Ladakh.

    “I would say equal number of equipment is also being inducted into the eastern theatre with a focus on mobility,” he said, adding the Army is also looking at procuring counter drone technology both in kinetic and non-kinetic domain.

    He said the focus has also been on setting up new logistics storage bases in forward areas as underground ones too enhance overall capabilities.

    Asked about the Siliguri corridor that connects the Northeast region with rest of India, he said radicalisation and separatist tendencies are major areas of concern.

    “Siliguri corridor is sensitive for us as there have been challenges of radicalisation and separatist tendencies. We are looking at a ‘whole of the nation approach’ to mitigate the threat in normal time and the hybrid threat as and when it manifests,” he said.

    “Recently a joint mechanism under the Army has been set up that has proved to be effective in coordinating actions of various agencies,” he added.

  • India looks at reviewing its future responses against China at strategic level

    Express News Service

    RUPA (ARUNACHAL PRADESH): Consequent to the unilateral breach of agreements along the Line of Actual Control by China in Eastern Ladakh, Commander-in-Chief of Indian Army’s Eastern Command Lt Gen MK Pande suggested that India is reviewing its future responses at the higher level.

    Lt Gen Pande also said that China has increased its troops levels on its sides in Eastern Sector in the depth areas and they have not yet gone back.

    Replying to the question of The New Indian Express, Lt Gen MK Pande, said, “In terms of our larger guidance, strategic guidance in terms of dealing with situation on the LAC is to respect the mutually agreed protocols and agreements, and that has been our effort, notwithstanding what has been the action or response from the other side. Consequent to what happened and what we need to do in the future, is something I reckon is being looked at at a higher level.”

    In May 2020 China moved a large body of its People’s Liberation Army troops at the LAC in Eastern Ladakh after a clash between the troops of the two sides at Finger 4 location along the North Bank of the Pangong Tso.

    The standoff started at Finger 4 and spread to Galwan, Gogra, Hotspring and South Bank of Pangong Tso. The tensions flared and this led to bloody clashes at Galwan which led to the death of 20 Indian Troops and at least 4 from the Chinese side.

    Speaking on the force accretion by the PLA in Eastern Ladakh, Lt Gen Pande said there has been focus on conducting integrated exercises. “Annual Training exercise which the PLA carries out has increased in depth. Some of the reserve formations mobilized by the PLA have continued to remain in operational depth,” he said.

    Significant length, 1346 kilometers which includes Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, lies in Eastern Sector which is being looked after by the Indian Army’s eastern Command. There are several areas of differing perception where faceoffs take place.

    The Indian Army tries to resolve faceoffs at the local level, Gen Pande. “We have robust mechanisms like hotlines, Border personnel Meetings which have worked well so far,” told Gen Pande.

    Adding to the mechanism of communication and resolution along the LAC 4th hotline has been added recently. 4th Hotline has been operationalised recently at North Sikkim. The other three in the Eastern Command are at Kibithu, Bum La, Nathu La.

    India has been sprucing up its military and road infrastructure. “India has worked on mobility with all terrain vehicles, have added drones, counter drone mechanism, UAVs, Precision Guided Ammunitions, better radio sets, surveillance radars and night vision capabilities,” he said.

    The Mountain Strike Corps has been fully operationalized. Its raising commenced in 2014 with its combat, combat support and logistics set up raised. “Operational Philosophy has stabilized and the troops have been doing validation training exercises with other formations,” he said.

    The raising of the Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) for swift deployment of troops with effective fire power is in process. “To enhance the efficiency of the Mountain Strike Corps we are looking at IBG from better options of deployment,” he said.