News Analysis India

Tag: Manoj Pande

  • Army Chief meets Bhutan King in Thimphu; focus on boosting enduring strategic ties

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Chief of Army Staff Gen Manoj Pande has met Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and other top civil and military leaders of Bhutan in Thimphu with a focus on boosting “enduring” strategic ties.

    Gen Pande was on a visit to Bhutan in the backdrop of growing concerns in India over China’s relentless attempts to expand military infrastructure around Bhutanese territory in the Doklam plateau.

    People familiar with Gen Pande’s engagements in Bhutan said regional defence and security challenges, Chinese activities in the plateau and adjoining areas and ways to enhance bilateral defence cooperation figured in his talks.

    The Army Chief’s visit to Bhutan coincided with India’s decision to authorise the export of 5,000 metric tonnes of wheat and 10,000 metric tonnes of sugar to Bhutan as per Thimphu’s requirements.

    Earlier this year, India restricted the export of the two commodities to strengthen India’s food security.

    The Army Chief called on the King on Saturday besides meeting Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth King of Bhutan.

    “General Manoj Pande #COAS called on His Majesty the King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and discussed aspects of enhancing the enduring bilateral relationship between the two Nations,” the Army said in a tweet.

    It said he was also accorded an “impeccable Guard of Honour” at Thimphu.

    ALSO READ | New images show China has built a full-fledged village near Doklam

    The people cited above said Gen Pande held extensive talks with his Bhutanese counterpart Lt General Batoo Tshering on all key issues including the overall situation in the Doklam tri-junction.

    In 2017, the Indian and Chinese armies were locked in a 73-day stand-off at the Doklam tri-junction after China tried to extend a road in the area that Bhutan claimed belonged to it.

    Gen Pande also met with the Indian officials engaged in capacity-building of the Bhutanese military.

    India has been significantly extending support to Bhutan’s armed forces including in areas of training.

    The Army Chief’s visit to Bhutan came days after new satellite images emerged showing China constructing a village east of the Doklam plateau on the Bhutanese side, a region that is considered important for India’s strategic interest.

    After the images came out, the Ministry of External Affairs said India keeps a constant watch on all developments having bearing on national security and takes necessary measures to safeguard its interests.

    In the last few years, India has been focusing on strengthening its infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) including in the Sikkim sector.

    In October last year, Bhutan and China signed an agreement on a “three-step roadmap” to expedite negotiations to resolve their festering boundary dispute.

    Bhutan shares an over 400-km-long border with China and the two countries have held over 24 rounds of boundary talks in a bid to resolve the dispute.

    The Doklam tri-junction is considered important from the point of view of India’s security interests.

    The India-China stand-off in the Doklam plateau in 2017 even triggered fears of a war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

    Bhutan said the area where China attempted to build the road belonged to it and India supported the Bhutanese claim.

    India had strongly opposed the construction of the road at the Doklam tri-junction as it would have impacted its overall security interests.

    The India-China face-off was resolved following several rounds of talks.

    NEW DELHI: Chief of Army Staff Gen Manoj Pande has met Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and other top civil and military leaders of Bhutan in Thimphu with a focus on boosting “enduring” strategic ties.

    Gen Pande was on a visit to Bhutan in the backdrop of growing concerns in India over China’s relentless attempts to expand military infrastructure around Bhutanese territory in the Doklam plateau.

    People familiar with Gen Pande’s engagements in Bhutan said regional defence and security challenges, Chinese activities in the plateau and adjoining areas and ways to enhance bilateral defence cooperation figured in his talks.

    The Army Chief’s visit to Bhutan coincided with India’s decision to authorise the export of 5,000 metric tonnes of wheat and 10,000 metric tonnes of sugar to Bhutan as per Thimphu’s requirements.

    Earlier this year, India restricted the export of the two commodities to strengthen India’s food security.

    The Army Chief called on the King on Saturday besides meeting Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth King of Bhutan.

    “General Manoj Pande #COAS called on His Majesty the King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and discussed aspects of enhancing the enduring bilateral relationship between the two Nations,” the Army said in a tweet.

    It said he was also accorded an “impeccable Guard of Honour” at Thimphu.

    ALSO READ | New images show China has built a full-fledged village near Doklam

    The people cited above said Gen Pande held extensive talks with his Bhutanese counterpart Lt General Batoo Tshering on all key issues including the overall situation in the Doklam tri-junction.

    In 2017, the Indian and Chinese armies were locked in a 73-day stand-off at the Doklam tri-junction after China tried to extend a road in the area that Bhutan claimed belonged to it.

    Gen Pande also met with the Indian officials engaged in capacity-building of the Bhutanese military.

    India has been significantly extending support to Bhutan’s armed forces including in areas of training.

    The Army Chief’s visit to Bhutan came days after new satellite images emerged showing China constructing a village east of the Doklam plateau on the Bhutanese side, a region that is considered important for India’s strategic interest.

    After the images came out, the Ministry of External Affairs said India keeps a constant watch on all developments having bearing on national security and takes necessary measures to safeguard its interests.

    In the last few years, India has been focusing on strengthening its infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) including in the Sikkim sector.

    In October last year, Bhutan and China signed an agreement on a “three-step roadmap” to expedite negotiations to resolve their festering boundary dispute.

    Bhutan shares an over 400-km-long border with China and the two countries have held over 24 rounds of boundary talks in a bid to resolve the dispute.

    The Doklam tri-junction is considered important from the point of view of India’s security interests.

    The India-China stand-off in the Doklam plateau in 2017 even triggered fears of a war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

    Bhutan said the area where China attempted to build the road belonged to it and India supported the Bhutanese claim.

    India had strongly opposed the construction of the road at the Doklam tri-junction as it would have impacted its overall security interests.

    The India-China face-off was resolved following several rounds of talks.

  • Army Chief begins Bhutan visit days after satellite images showed Chinese activity

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Chief of Army Staff Gen Manoj Pande on Friday began a two-day visit to Bhutan amid China’s persistent attempts to enhance infrastructure around Bhutanese territory in the Doklam plateau.

    The Indian Army said Gen Pande is scheduled to meet King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the fourth king of Bhutan besides holding talks with his counterpart in the Royal Bhutan Army.

    Gen Pande’s visit to Bhutan came days after new satellite images emerged showing China constructing a village East of the Doklam plateau on the Bhutanese side, a region that is considered important for India’s strategic interest.

    After the images came out, the Ministry of External Affairs said India keeps a constant watch on all developments having bearing on national security and takes necessary measures to safeguard its interests.

    It is learnt that the overall situation in the Doklam plateau as well as Chinese activities in the region are set to figure in Gen Pande’s talks with his Bhutanese interlocutors.

    “This visit will further enhance the unique and time-tested bilateral relationship, characterised by utmost trust, goodwill and mutual understanding,” the Army said in a brief statement.

    The Army said Gen Pande will commence his visit by paying homage at the National Memorial Chorten at Thimpu, built in the memory of the third King of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk.

    “The Chief of Army Staff is scheduled to have an audience with His Majesty the King and His Majesty the Fourth King,” the Army said.

    “The Army Chief will also engage in extensive discussions with his counterpart in the Royal Bhutan Army to exchange views on taking forward the strong cultural and professional bonds between both the armies,” it said.

    The Doklam plateau is considered an important area for India’s strategic interest.

    The Indian and Chinese armies were locked in a 73-day stand-off at the Doklam tri-junction after China tried to extend a road in the area that Bhutan claimed belonged to it.

    ALSO READ | India on China’s inroads to Doklam: We keep eye on developments having bearing on national security

    In October last year, Bhutan and China signed an agreement on a “three-step roadmap” to expedite negotiations to resolve their festering boundary dispute.

    Bhutan shares an over 400-km-long border with China and the two countries have held over 24 rounds of boundary talks in a bid to resolve the dispute.

    The Doklam tri-junction is considered important from the point of view of India’s security interests.

    The India-China stand-off in the Doklam plateau in 2017 even triggered fears of a war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

    Bhutan said the area belonged to it and India supported the Bhutanese claim.

    India had strongly opposed the construction of the road at the Doklam tri-junction as it would have impacted its overall security interests.

    The India-China face-off was resolved following several rounds of talks.

    The Army Chief will conclude his visit by paying homage at the Druk Wangyal Khang Zhang Chortens at Dochula, which were established in honour of the fallen heroes of the Royal Bhutan Army.

    ALSO WATCH |

    NEW DELHI: Chief of Army Staff Gen Manoj Pande on Friday began a two-day visit to Bhutan amid China’s persistent attempts to enhance infrastructure around Bhutanese territory in the Doklam plateau.

    The Indian Army said Gen Pande is scheduled to meet King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the fourth king of Bhutan besides holding talks with his counterpart in the Royal Bhutan Army.

    Gen Pande’s visit to Bhutan came days after new satellite images emerged showing China constructing a village East of the Doklam plateau on the Bhutanese side, a region that is considered important for India’s strategic interest.

    After the images came out, the Ministry of External Affairs said India keeps a constant watch on all developments having bearing on national security and takes necessary measures to safeguard its interests.

    It is learnt that the overall situation in the Doklam plateau as well as Chinese activities in the region are set to figure in Gen Pande’s talks with his Bhutanese interlocutors.

    “This visit will further enhance the unique and time-tested bilateral relationship, characterised by utmost trust, goodwill and mutual understanding,” the Army said in a brief statement.

    The Army said Gen Pande will commence his visit by paying homage at the National Memorial Chorten at Thimpu, built in the memory of the third King of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk.

    “The Chief of Army Staff is scheduled to have an audience with His Majesty the King and His Majesty the Fourth King,” the Army said.

    “The Army Chief will also engage in extensive discussions with his counterpart in the Royal Bhutan Army to exchange views on taking forward the strong cultural and professional bonds between both the armies,” it said.

    The Doklam plateau is considered an important area for India’s strategic interest.

    The Indian and Chinese armies were locked in a 73-day stand-off at the Doklam tri-junction after China tried to extend a road in the area that Bhutan claimed belonged to it.

    ALSO READ | India on China’s inroads to Doklam: We keep eye on developments having bearing on national security

    In October last year, Bhutan and China signed an agreement on a “three-step roadmap” to expedite negotiations to resolve their festering boundary dispute.

    Bhutan shares an over 400-km-long border with China and the two countries have held over 24 rounds of boundary talks in a bid to resolve the dispute.

    The Doklam tri-junction is considered important from the point of view of India’s security interests.

    The India-China stand-off in the Doklam plateau in 2017 even triggered fears of a war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

    Bhutan said the area belonged to it and India supported the Bhutanese claim.

    India had strongly opposed the construction of the road at the Doklam tri-junction as it would have impacted its overall security interests.

    The India-China face-off was resolved following several rounds of talks.

    The Army Chief will conclude his visit by paying homage at the Druk Wangyal Khang Zhang Chortens at Dochula, which were established in honour of the fallen heroes of the Royal Bhutan Army.

    ALSO WATCH |

  • China’s intent has been to keep boundary issue ‘alive’: Army Chief Gen Pande

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The basic issue with China remains the resolution of the boundary question but Beijing’s intent has been to keep it “alive”, Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande said on Monday, asserting that Indian troops are adequately deployed to deal with any situation along the frontier.

    Gen Pande said the Army’s aim is to restore the status quo ante prior to April 2020 and that guidance has been given to the troops deployed along the border to remain firm and resolute in their tasks.

    The Army chief told a group of journalists that Indian troops continue to hold “important positions” along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and that the Army has a “robust posture” to confront any situation.

    “The basic issue remains the resolution of the border. What we see is that China’s intent has been to keep the boundary issue alive,” he said.

    “What we need as a country is a ‘whole of nation’ approach and in the military domain, this is to prevent and counter any attempt to alter the status quo at the LAC,” he added.

    Gen Pande, who took the reins of the Army over a week ago, said the diplomatic and military talks between the two sides resulted in the disengagement of troops on the north and south banks of Pangong Tso, Gogra and Patrolling Point 14 in Galwan, and added, “We hope to find resolution through dialogue in remaining areas.” “Our aim is to restore status quo ante prior to April 2020,” he said.

    The eastern Ladakh faceoff began on May 4-5 in 2020. India has been insisting on the restoration of the status quo ante prior to the standoff.

    The aim is to establish trust and tranquillity on both sides but it cannot be a “one-way affair”, he said.

    “Our troops continue to hold important positions along the LAC. As far as the situation is concerned, guidance given to the troops is to remain firm and resolute in the task they are undertaking and prevent attempts to change the status quo,” he said.

  • Gen Manoj Pande takes charge as Army chief

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Gen Manoj Pande took charge as the 29th Chief of the Army Staff on Saturday after incumbent Gen MM Naravane retired from service.

    Gen Pande, who was serving as the vice chief, became the first officer from the Corps of Engineers to helm the force.

    Before taking charge as vice chief of the Army on February 1, Gen Pande was heading the Eastern Army Command, tasked with guarding the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh sectors.

    Gen Pande took charge of the Army at a time India is facing myriad security challenges, including along the borders with China and Pakistan.

    As the Army chief, he will also have to coordinate with the Navy and the Indian Air Force on the government’s plan to roll out theatre commands.

    The theaterisation plan was being implemented by India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat who died in a helicopter crash in December last.

    The government is yet to appoint Gen Rawat’s successor.

    In his distinguished career, Gen Pande also served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN), which is India’s only tri-services command.

    An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, he was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers (The Bombay Sappers) in December 1982.

    Gen Pande has held several prestigious command and staff assignments in conventional as well as counter-insurgency operations in all types of terrain.

    He commanded an engineer regiment along the Line of Control during the Operation Parakram in Jammu and Kashmir, an engineer brigade in the western sector, an infantry brigade along LoC and a mountain division in high-altitude area of western Ladakh and a corps in the Northeast.

    His staff exposures include Brigade Major of a Mountain Brigade in the Northeast, Assistant Military Secretary (AMS) in the Military Secretary’s Branch and Brigadier General Staff (Operations) at the Eastern Command headquarters.

  • 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.