News Analysis India

Tag: PLA

  • Army aims to restore patrolling rights at Despang during Sino-India disengagement talks

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Indian Army has put its foot down over the restoration of patrolling rights as the talks between India and China are underway for troop disengagement in eastern Ladakh both at the diplomatic and military levels.

    Sources said on Tuesday that the Indian stance on the standoff points has remained consistent, i.e. restoration of status quo ante as on April 2020. “This entails the restoration of patrolling rights to the traditional patrolling points,” said multiple sources.

    The 18th round of Senior Highest Military Commander Level (SHMCL) talks were conducted at the Chushul-Moldo meeting point, on the Chinese side, on April 23 this year.

    The “friction” caused by the standoff between the ground forces of the Indian Army and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) remains at two friction points — Depsang and Demchok.

    The technical term for the corps commander talks is interactions at the Senior Highest Military Commander Level (SHMCL). Talks at the SHMCL levels took place for the first time on June 6, 2020.

    The Indian side emphasized that the process of disengagement from Galwan, Gogra, Hotsprings and the north and south banks of Pangong Tso does not change India’s claim over the alignment of the LAC.

    “All disengagements carried out earlier also have been done on the basis of mutual security with no prejudice to LAC claims by either side,” said a source.

    But the standoff at Depsang is of much significance where the Chinese troops have blocked access to five patrolling points — 10, 11, 11A, 12, and 13. The area out of access, as per the sources, is around 952 sq km.

    The five patrolling points, which are located east of the strategic Sub-Sector North road, are close to the LAC, but not located right at the LAC but are located inside the line that marks the Indian territory.

    The Sub-Sector North, of which Depsang is a part, is strategically most important. The terrain is such that a large-scale armour operation is possible. China has multiple roads feeding this area while India has only the DSDBO Road.

    Depsang is also a link to Siachen and the Daulat beg Oldie (DBO) Airfield. The crucial Y Junction is about 20 km from the DBO. The Patrolling points are identified and marked on the LAC where regular patrolling is done to assert the claim about the LAC.

    Tension prevails along the LAC in eastern Ladakh with more than 50, 000 soldiers from each side amassed with heavy equipment like missiles, artillery, and tanks with air power being kept ready. 

    NEW DELHI: The Indian Army has put its foot down over the restoration of patrolling rights as the talks between India and China are underway for troop disengagement in eastern Ladakh both at the diplomatic and military levels.

    Sources said on Tuesday that the Indian stance on the standoff points has remained consistent, i.e. restoration of status quo ante as on April 2020. “This entails the restoration of patrolling rights to the traditional patrolling points,” said multiple sources.

    The 18th round of Senior Highest Military Commander Level (SHMCL) talks were conducted at the Chushul-Moldo meeting point, on the Chinese side, on April 23 this year.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The “friction” caused by the standoff between the ground forces of the Indian Army and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) remains at two friction points — Depsang and Demchok.

    The technical term for the corps commander talks is interactions at the Senior Highest Military Commander Level (SHMCL). Talks at the SHMCL levels took place for the first time on June 6, 2020.

    The Indian side emphasized that the process of disengagement from Galwan, Gogra, Hotsprings and the north and south banks of Pangong Tso does not change India’s claim over the alignment of the LAC.

    “All disengagements carried out earlier also have been done on the basis of mutual security with no prejudice to LAC claims by either side,” said a source.

    But the standoff at Depsang is of much significance where the Chinese troops have blocked access to five patrolling points — 10, 11, 11A, 12, and 13. The area out of access, as per the sources, is around 952 sq km.

    The five patrolling points, which are located east of the strategic Sub-Sector North road, are close to the LAC, but not located right at the LAC but are located inside the line that marks the Indian territory.

    The Sub-Sector North, of which Depsang is a part, is strategically most important. The terrain is such that a large-scale armour operation is possible. China has multiple roads feeding this area while India has only the DSDBO Road.

    Depsang is also a link to Siachen and the Daulat beg Oldie (DBO) Airfield. The crucial Y Junction is about 20 km from the DBO. The Patrolling points are identified and marked on the LAC where regular patrolling is done to assert the claim about the LAC.

    Tension prevails along the LAC in eastern Ladakh with more than 50, 000 soldiers from each side amassed with heavy equipment like missiles, artillery, and tanks with air power being kept ready. 

  • ‘Chinese Salami Slicing’: India lost access to 26 out of 65 Patrolling Points in eastern Ladakh: Reports

    By Online Desk

    CHENNAI: India has lost access to 26 out of 65 Patrolling Points (PP) in eastern Ladakh, reports said.

    PPs are benchmark locations on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) mutually agreed by both India and China. 

    Reports quoting a document submitted at the annual Director General of Police (DGP) Conference (January 20-22), attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, noted that the 65 PPs start from Karakoram pass to Chumur which are patrolled regularly by the ISFs (Indian Security Forces). However, out of the 65 PPs, India lost presence in 26 PPs “due to restrictive or no patrolling by the ISFs.” 

    Later on, China has forced India to accept the fact that, as, such areas have not seen the presence of ISFs or civilians since long, the Chinese were present in these areas. This leads to a shift in the border under control of ISFs towards Indian side and a buffer zone is created in all such pockets which ultimately leads to loss of control over these areas by India.

    This tactic of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to grab land inch-by-inch is known as Salami Slicing,” reports added.

    Further, the recent disengagement agreements at two patrolling points has resulted in the loss of pasture lands at Gogra hills, North Bank of Pangong Tso, and Kakjung areas.

    The document did not come up for discussion during the two-day meeting, reports noted.

    The army has placed significant restrictions on the movement of civilians and graziers near the forward areas on the Indian side, indicating with their play-safe strategy that they do not want to annoy the PLA by giving them the chance to raise objections on the areas being claimed as disputed.

    Reports added that unfenced borders have been serving as pastures for the nomadic community of Changthang region (Rebos) and given the scarcity of the rich pastures, they would traditionally venture into the areas close to the PPs. However, since 2014, “enhanced restrictions on the grazing movement and areas have been imposed on the Rebos by ISFs and this has caused some resentment against them. The soldiers are especially deployed in disguise to stop the movement of Rebos to the higher reaches that could be objected by the PLA and similarly the development works in the border villages like Demchok, Koyul which are under direct electronic surveillance of the PLA suffers, as they raise objections promptly.”

    Over the years, this has resulted in the loss of livelihood and change in lifestyle patterns of border villages, which has led to migration, reports added.

    CHENNAI: India has lost access to 26 out of 65 Patrolling Points (PP) in eastern Ladakh, reports said.

    PPs are benchmark locations on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) mutually agreed by both India and China. 

    Reports quoting a document submitted at the annual Director General of Police (DGP) Conference (January 20-22), attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, noted that the 65 PPs start from Karakoram pass to Chumur which are patrolled regularly by the ISFs (Indian Security Forces). However, out of the 65 PPs, India lost presence in 26 PPs “due to restrictive or no patrolling by the ISFs.” 

    Later on, China has forced India to accept the fact that, as, such areas have not seen the presence of ISFs or civilians since long, the Chinese were present in these areas. This leads to a shift in the border under control of ISFs towards Indian side and a buffer zone is created in all such pockets which ultimately leads to loss of control over these areas by India.

    This tactic of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to grab land inch-by-inch is known as Salami Slicing,” reports added.

    Further, the recent disengagement agreements at two patrolling points has resulted in the loss of pasture lands at Gogra hills, North Bank of Pangong Tso, and Kakjung areas.

    The document did not come up for discussion during the two-day meeting, reports noted.

    The army has placed significant restrictions on the movement of civilians and graziers near the forward areas on the Indian side, indicating with their play-safe strategy that they do not want to annoy the PLA by giving them the chance to raise objections on the areas being claimed as disputed.

    Reports added that unfenced borders have been serving as pastures for the nomadic community of Changthang region (Rebos) and given the scarcity of the rich pastures, they would traditionally venture into the areas close to the PPs. However, since 2014, “enhanced restrictions on the grazing movement and areas have been imposed on the Rebos by ISFs and this has caused some resentment against them. The soldiers are especially deployed in disguise to stop the movement of Rebos to the higher reaches that could be objected by the PLA and similarly the development works in the border villages like Demchok, Koyul which are under direct electronic surveillance of the PLA suffers, as they raise objections promptly.”

    Over the years, this has resulted in the loss of livelihood and change in lifestyle patterns of border villages, which has led to migration, reports added.

  • India blames China of trying to alter ‘status quo’, Beijing downplays Arunachal border clash

    By Online Desk

    The tumultuous Sino-India border has witnessed a new border clash between the Indian Army and China’s People’s Liberation Army.

    The Indian army on Monday revealed that both troops clashed near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) along the Arunachal Pradesh border in the Tawang sector, leaving at least six Indian soldiers injured.  

    The tussle arose, on Dec. 09, 2022, after Chinese troops converged near the LAC prompting Indian troops to contest the action in a “resolute” manner.   Indian media reports quoted unnamed sources as saying that the incident involved around 300 members of China’s People’s Liberation Army and that China suffered a greater number of injuries.

    WATCH:

    The latest border tussle comes at a time when the bilateral ties between the nuclear giants are at rock bottom in the aftermath of the Galwan Valley clash, in June 2020, leaving at least 20 Indian soldiers and four PLA troops killed.

    China and India fought a full-scale war in 1962 over control of Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims in its entirety and considers part of Tibet.

    What does India say?

    India has accused China of trying to “unilaterally change the status quo” on their disputed Himalayan border last week when clashes left troops on both sides injured.

    Defence Minister Rajnath Singh informed the parliament that Indian and Chinese troops engaged in the fresh confrontation on December 9 in Arunachal Pradesh.

    “On 09 December 2022, PLA troops attempted to unilaterally change the status quo by encroaching on the Line of Actual Control, in the Yangtse area of the Tawang sector,” Singh said, referring to China’s People’s Liberation Army and the de-facto border.

    The face-off, which followed recent joint US-India military exercises near the border that angered Beijing, led to “injuries to soldiers on both sides,” Singh added.

    “A scuffle ensued in this face-off. The Indian Army bravely prevented the PLA from encroaching on our territory and forced them to withdraw to their posts. Some soldiers from both sides were injured in the skirmish.”

    What does China say?

    In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that he believed the situation was now calm but gave no details of what happened or whether Chinese troops were injured.

    “As far as we understand, the China-India border situation is stable overall,” Wang said, adding the two sides “maintained unobstructed dialogue on the border issue through diplomatic and military channels.”

    He added: “It is hoped that the Indian side will advance in the same direction as China, earnestly implement the important consensus reached by both leaders, strictly abide by the spirit of the agreements and accords signed by both sides, (and) together uphold the peace and tranquillity of the China-India border region.”

    US-India exercises

    Since the deadly hand-to-hand battle in 2020, both sides have sent thousands of troops to bolster the border. Multiple rounds of talks have failed to substantially ease tensions. The army source said there was another “face-off” between Indian and Chinese troops in the last week of November in the Demchok region of Ladakh, further to the north.

    It was unclear if there were any injuries resulting from that incident, which was the first since September 2020. The army source said that there has been increased activity in Ladakh by the Chinese military, as well as a “possible” airspace violation by the Chinese air force in the same area.

    This follows joint military exercises which irked Beijing last month between India and the United States in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, which borders China. The Chinese soldiers also displayed a banner objecting to the Indo-US military exercises, the source said.

    Undefined border

    China and India fought a war in 1962 over their long and disputed border. The exact path of the border, some of which is more than 4,000 metres (13,100 feet) above sea level, has never been demarcated.

    Winter temperatures can plunge below minus 30 Celsius (minus 22 Fahrenheit), cracking gun barrels and seizing up machinery.

    Even before the June 2020 clash, India was moving strategically closer to the West, deepening security cooperation with the United States, Japan and Australia in the Asia-Pacific region.

    United by their concern about China’s increasing influence in the region, together they make up the so-called Quad alliance.

    India has also embarked on a $130-billion modernisation of its armed forces — including ordering attack helicopters from the United States and a missile defence system from Russia.

    In the aftermath of the 2020 clash, India banned hundreds of mobile applications of Chinese origin, including the popular social media platform TikTok. Chinese firms operating in India, including cellphone makers Xiaomi and Huawei, have been raided by the tax authorities.

    Bilateral trade remains brisk, however, at around $100 billion per year, but India imports from China far more than it exports there.

    (With inputs from PTI, AFP)

    The tumultuous Sino-India border has witnessed a new border clash between the Indian Army and China’s People’s Liberation Army.

    The Indian army on Monday revealed that both troops clashed near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) along the Arunachal Pradesh border in the Tawang sector, leaving at least six Indian soldiers injured.  

    The tussle arose, on Dec. 09, 2022, after Chinese troops converged near the LAC prompting Indian troops to contest the action in a “resolute” manner.   Indian media reports quoted unnamed sources as saying that the incident involved around 300 members of China’s People’s Liberation Army and that China suffered a greater number of injuries.

    WATCH:

    The latest border tussle comes at a time when the bilateral ties between the nuclear giants are at rock bottom in the aftermath of the Galwan Valley clash, in June 2020, leaving at least 20 Indian soldiers and four PLA troops killed.

    China and India fought a full-scale war in 1962 over control of Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims in its entirety and considers part of Tibet.

    What does India say?

    India has accused China of trying to “unilaterally change the status quo” on their disputed Himalayan border last week when clashes left troops on both sides injured.

    Defence Minister Rajnath Singh informed the parliament that Indian and Chinese troops engaged in the fresh confrontation on December 9 in Arunachal Pradesh.

    “On 09 December 2022, PLA troops attempted to unilaterally change the status quo by encroaching on the Line of Actual Control, in the Yangtse area of the Tawang sector,” Singh said, referring to China’s People’s Liberation Army and the de-facto border.

    The face-off, which followed recent joint US-India military exercises near the border that angered Beijing, led to “injuries to soldiers on both sides,” Singh added.

    “A scuffle ensued in this face-off. The Indian Army bravely prevented the PLA from encroaching on our territory and forced them to withdraw to their posts. Some soldiers from both sides were injured in the skirmish.”

    What does China say?

    In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that he believed the situation was now calm but gave no details of what happened or whether Chinese troops were injured.

    “As far as we understand, the China-India border situation is stable overall,” Wang said, adding the two sides “maintained unobstructed dialogue on the border issue through diplomatic and military channels.”

    He added: “It is hoped that the Indian side will advance in the same direction as China, earnestly implement the important consensus reached by both leaders, strictly abide by the spirit of the agreements and accords signed by both sides, (and) together uphold the peace and tranquillity of the China-India border region.”

    US-India exercises

    Since the deadly hand-to-hand battle in 2020, both sides have sent thousands of troops to bolster the border. Multiple rounds of talks have failed to substantially ease tensions. The army source said there was another “face-off” between Indian and Chinese troops in the last week of November in the Demchok region of Ladakh, further to the north.

    It was unclear if there were any injuries resulting from that incident, which was the first since September 2020. The army source said that there has been increased activity in Ladakh by the Chinese military, as well as a “possible” airspace violation by the Chinese air force in the same area.

    This follows joint military exercises which irked Beijing last month between India and the United States in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, which borders China. The Chinese soldiers also displayed a banner objecting to the Indo-US military exercises, the source said.

    Undefined border

    China and India fought a war in 1962 over their long and disputed border. The exact path of the border, some of which is more than 4,000 metres (13,100 feet) above sea level, has never been demarcated.

    Winter temperatures can plunge below minus 30 Celsius (minus 22 Fahrenheit), cracking gun barrels and seizing up machinery.

    Even before the June 2020 clash, India was moving strategically closer to the West, deepening security cooperation with the United States, Japan and Australia in the Asia-Pacific region.

    United by their concern about China’s increasing influence in the region, together they make up the so-called Quad alliance.

    India has also embarked on a $130-billion modernisation of its armed forces — including ordering attack helicopters from the United States and a missile defence system from Russia.

    In the aftermath of the 2020 clash, India banned hundreds of mobile applications of Chinese origin, including the popular social media platform TikTok. Chinese firms operating in India, including cellphone makers Xiaomi and Huawei, have been raided by the tax authorities.

    Bilateral trade remains brisk, however, at around $100 billion per year, but India imports from China far more than it exports there.

    (With inputs from PTI, AFP)

  • Indo-China border clash: China says situation ‘stable’ on Arunachal border

    By AFP

    BEIJING: China said the situation was “stable” Tuesday on its border with India after New Delhi reported a fresh stand-off between the two countries’ militaries on their disputed Himalayan frontier last week.

    The incident is thought to be the most serious on the nuclear-armed Asian giants’ disputed frontier since 2020 when 20 Indian troops and four Chinese soldiers died in brawling.

    An Indian source said the December 9 incident, which followed recent joint US-India military exercises near the border, led to “minor injuries to (a) few personnel from both sides.”

    Chinese soldiers came close to the area near the Line of Actual Control — the de facto border — where it had been agreed that neither side would patrol, the sources added.

    But foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin did not comment on the alleged clash Tuesday, telling reporters “as far as we understand, the China-India border situation is stable overall.”

    “Both sides have throughout maintained unobstructed dialogue on the border issue through diplomatic and military channels, it is hoped that the Indian side will advance in the same direction as China,” he added.

    Beijing urged New Delhi to “earnestly implement the important consensus reached by both leaders, strictly abide by the spirit of the agreements and accords signed by both sides, together uphold the peace and tranquillity of the China-India border region.”

    Indian media reports quoted unnamed sources as saying that the incident involved around 300 members of China’s People’s Liberation Army and that China suffered a greater number of injuries — claims Beijing has not commented on.

    A request for comment to China’s Ministry of National Defense by AFP went unanswered Tuesday.

    Relations have been at rock bottom between the two countries since clashes in 2020.

    ALSO READ | Indian Army prevented Chinese attempts to change status quo in Arunachal

    BEIJING: China said the situation was “stable” Tuesday on its border with India after New Delhi reported a fresh stand-off between the two countries’ militaries on their disputed Himalayan frontier last week.

    The incident is thought to be the most serious on the nuclear-armed Asian giants’ disputed frontier since 2020 when 20 Indian troops and four Chinese soldiers died in brawling.

    An Indian source said the December 9 incident, which followed recent joint US-India military exercises near the border, led to “minor injuries to (a) few personnel from both sides.”

    Chinese soldiers came close to the area near the Line of Actual Control — the de facto border — where it had been agreed that neither side would patrol, the sources added.

    But foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin did not comment on the alleged clash Tuesday, telling reporters “as far as we understand, the China-India border situation is stable overall.”

    “Both sides have throughout maintained unobstructed dialogue on the border issue through diplomatic and military channels, it is hoped that the Indian side will advance in the same direction as China,” he added.

    Beijing urged New Delhi to “earnestly implement the important consensus reached by both leaders, strictly abide by the spirit of the agreements and accords signed by both sides, together uphold the peace and tranquillity of the China-India border region.”

    Indian media reports quoted unnamed sources as saying that the incident involved around 300 members of China’s People’s Liberation Army and that China suffered a greater number of injuries — claims Beijing has not commented on.

    A request for comment to China’s Ministry of National Defense by AFP went unanswered Tuesday.

    Relations have been at rock bottom between the two countries since clashes in 2020.

    ALSO READ | Indian Army prevented Chinese attempts to change status quo in Arunachal

  • Pics show Indian Army unfurling tricolour in Galwan Valley on New Year, bust PLA propaganda

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Indian Army unfurled the Tricolour in the Galwan valley, Ladakh on the occasion of New Year. As per sources in the security establishment, the Indian Army personnel had hoisted the National flag in Galwan on New Year’s eve.
    The move comes amid reports in a section of media that claimed that Chinese soldiers had displayed their flag in the region a few days ago.

    Earlier, the media reported that the Chinese government had sought to “rename” 15 places in Arunachal Pradesh in its map two days ahead of implementing new border law.

    The Indian Government on last Thursday said that it has seen reports of China attempting to rename some places in Arunachal Pradesh “in its own language” and asserted that the border state has been and will always be an integral part of India and “assigning invented names does not alter this fact”.

    In response to a media query on reports that China has renamed some places in Arunachal Pradesh in its own language, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said China had also sought to assign such names in April 2017.

    Indian Army soldiers in Galwan Valley on #NewYear(Photo credit: Sources in security establishment) pic.twitter.com/GJxK0QOW48
    — ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2022
    After the Galwan clash in 2020, several rounds of military and diplomatic talks have ended in a stalemate. Disengagement at some border points did take place but by and large, there is an impasse on complete disengagement. Disengagement at Depsang and Hot Springs remains a key sticky point.

    A huge build-up of forces on each side of Eastern Ladakh even during harsh winters indicates that conflict is far from being defused.

    India maintains that the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) had been caused by unilateral attempts of the Chinese side to alter the status quo and in violation of the bilateral agreements. It was therefore necessary that the Chinese side take appropriate steps in the remaining areas so as to restore peace and tranquillity along the LAC in the Western Sector.

  • PLA rekindles cycle of violence in Manipur by killing Colonel, wife and son

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: The People’s Liberation Army (PLA), one of the most violent groups in the Northeast, has rekindled the fire of insurgency in a more or less peaceful Manipur. 

    Saturday’s attack in Churachandpur, carried out by the militant organisation, has put not just Manipur but Northeast on the boil again. 

    A reprisal attack by the security forces on the violent insurgents is now a certainty because not only a senior Army officer was killed but also his wife, son and four other personnel.

    The grouping to which the PLA belongs – CorCom (Coordination Committee – is itself a powerful body of seven militant outfits of Manipur’s Imphal Valley that operates from the soil of Myanmar in coordination with other militant groups from the Northeast. 

    Manipur has over 40 insurgent groups but a large number of them have been lying low for a long time following their signing of separate suspension of operation agreements with the government.

    Those which are still wielding the gun carry out the attacks periodically but not on Saturday’s scale.

    People following the insurgency movement of Northeast say the rebels carry out such attacks to make their presence felt.

    ALSO READ | Strongly condemn attack on Assam Rifles convoy in Manipur, says PM Modi

    “They were lying low. This is an opportunist kind of an attack where they are trying to announce they are still alive,” Pradip Phanjoubam, Editor of Imphal Review of Arts and Politics, said.

    Phanjoubam insisted that a serious effort should be made to solve the problem.

    “If you make a right kind of an effort, there could be a solution to the problem. But the effort is not forthcoming,” he said.

    There was a time when insurgency-related violence was common in Northeast but now, most states are peaceful.

    ALSO READ | Manipur attack again proves Modi govt incapable of protecting nation: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi 

    Mizoram no longer has this problem. The attacks by the militants have also ceased in Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh. 

    Cold Facts

    Five martyred soldiers and a wife and son

    1. Colonel Viplav Tripathi, wife and son 2. Rifleman Suman Swargiary3. Rifleman Khatnei Konyak4. Rifleman RP Meena5. Rifleman Shyamal Das

    The militants used an Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) to hit Colonel Viplav Tripathi’s car, and followed it up with firing from close range. The militants were fully aware that the Colonel’s family were travelling in the car. 

  • 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.”.

  • Ladakh standoff: India, China hold 13th round of military talks

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: After a gap of over two months, India and China on Sunday are holding another round of high-level military talks with an aim to move forward on the disengagement process in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh, sources in the security establishment said.

    The 13th round of Corps Commander-level talks are taking place at the Moldo border point on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, they said.

    The talks began at around 10:30 AM, the sources said.

    The fresh round of talks is taking place over three weeks after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conveyed to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi that the two sides should work for an early resolution of the remaining issues in eastern Ladakh.

    The two foreign ministers met on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Dushanbe on September 16.

    The two sides held the 12th round of talks on July 31.

    Days later, the two armies completed the disengagement process in Gogra, which was seen as a significant forward movement towards the restoration of peace and tranquillity in the region.

    The Indian delegation at Sunday’s talks was to be led by Lt Gen PGK Menon, the Commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps.

    On Saturday, Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane said if the Chinese military continues with its large-scale deployment in the eastern Ladakh region, then the Indian Army too will maintain its strength on its side which he said is “as good as what the PLA has done.

    ” The fresh round of talks is taking place in the backdrop of two recent incidents of attempted transgressions by the Chinese troops with one in the Barahoti sector of Uttarakhand and another in the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh.

    Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a brief face-off near Yangtse in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh around 10 days back and it was resolved within a few hours following talks between commanders of the two sides as per established protocols.

    Last month, close to 100 soldiers of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) transgressed the LAC in the Barahoti sector of Uttarakhand.

    The transgression took place on August 30, and the Chinese troops returned from the area after spending a few hours.

    India has been insisting that resolution of outstanding issues including in Depsang, Hot Springs and Gogra is essential for an overall improvement in ties between the two countries.

    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.

    In February, the two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the north and south banks of the Pangong lake in line with an agreement on disengagement.

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

  • 13th round of India-China military talks likely to be held next week: Officials

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The next round of high-level military talks between India and China to take forward the disengagement process in remaining friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh is expected to take place next week, officials said on Saturday.

    Officials said both sides have exchanged notes as part of preparations for the 13th round of military talks to push for disengagement in the remaining friction points.

    Military sources said disengagement in Hot Springs and some other areas are expected to be discussed at the next round of Corps Commander-level talks.

    “A clarity on the date and venue for the talks is expected in the next three-four days,” said a source.

    The talks are expected to take place in the second week of October, officials said.

    Meanwhile, after a comprehensive review of the ground situation in the mountainous region, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane, who began his two-day visit to eastern Ladakh on Friday, said Indian soldiers are fully ready in “every possible way” to deal with any eventuality in eastern Ladakh.

    “I always try to go to the forward areas so that I can see for myself the situation. I am very happy that our soldiers are fully ready in every possible way,” said Gen Naravane said at the end of the visit to eastern Ladakh.

    In a separate development, the Army has deployed its K9-Vajra 155mm howitzer in eastern Ladakh as part of series of measures to further boost its combat capabilities.

    The army chief visited several forward areas in eastern Ladakh and carried out a comprehensive review of India’s operational preparedness during his visit, according to officials.

    Delivering a lecture at an industry chamber on Thursday, Gen Naravane had said the “unprecedented” military standoff with China required an immediate response and large-scale mobilisation of resources at a time when the country was faced with the coronavirus pandemic.

    “The unprecedented developments necessitated large scale resource mobilisation, orchestration of forces and immediate response, all this in a Covid-infested environment,” he said.

    The border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5 last year in eastern Ladakh 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.

    As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in the Gogra area last month.

    In February, the two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the north and south banks of the Pangong lake in line with an agreement on disengagement.

    Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the sensitive sector.

  • Increased Chinese deployment across border matter of concern: Indian Army chief

    By ANI

    LEH: Expressing hope that the pending issues between India and China along the Line of Actual Control would be resolved soon, Army chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane said the increase in the deployment by Chinese troops across the border was a matter of concern.

    He said India had made matching deployments in terms of troops and infrastructure in its areas along the LAC and there was no way anyone would be able to behave in an aggressive manner again.

    Speaking to ANI, Gen Naravane, who is in Ladakh for his two-day visit, said, “The situation at friction points has been normal for the past six months. The talks have been going on. We had the 12th round of talks last month, and also hopeful of having the 13th round of talks, maybe by the second week of October.”

    He added, “When the talks had started, people were doubtful whether talks would resolve anything, but I am of the firm opinion that we can resolve our differences with dialogue and that is what has happened in the past few months.”

    The army chief said, “The Chinese have deployed (their forces) in considerable numbers across Eastern Ladakh and up to 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 quite poised in order to meet any eventuality.”