Strategy seen as bid to needle India as Nepal protests opening of road near Lipulekh Pass
Even as efforts are on to cool down the LAC in Eastern Ladakh, China has deployed more troops in other sectors, including Lipulekh Pass in Uattrakhand and Arunachal Pradesh.
The move is seen as an attempt to needle India as Nepal is objecting to the inauguration of a road near Lipulekh three months back.
The Chinese have moved forward a battalion on its side of the LAC in that region in the last few days forcing India to take immediate steps to bolster its strength. Given the forward movement of additional troops by China in its depth areas facing Arunachal Pradesh, the Indian security establishment has also taken adequate measures to meet any challenge.
On the latest development in Uttarakhand, which along with Himachal Pradesh comprises the middle sector of the LAC, sources said here on Saturday, the Chinese brought forward 1,000 soldiers near the Lipulekh Pass.
While India is dealing with Nepal through diplomatic channels on this issue, the Chinese forward movement has made the Indian armed forces take immediate steps to augment their strength.
Besides increasing troops on the ground and moving heavy weapons ahead, the IAF has also deployed its frontline fighter jets, including SU-30s, Jaguars and MIG-29s, to forward airbases all along the 4,000 km stretching from Ladakh in the west to Arunachal Pradesh in the east.
These developments took place against the backdrop of the two countries reiterating their commitment to defuse tension at the LAC through diplomatic and military talks.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had inaugurated a 90-km long road in the Pithoragarh region three months back. This road reduces the travel time of pilgrims for the Mansarovar Yatra by more than 10 days. Located at a height of more than 12,000 feet, the road is at least three to four kms away from the LAC.
Soon after the opening of the road, Nepal saw vociferous protests claiming that the road was built in its territory. In fact, Nepal also changed its political map showing Kalapani and Lipulekh as its territory. The Lipulekh mountain pass is close to the tri-junction of Nepal, India and China.
Reacting to the protests, Army Chief General MM Naravane had then said there was no “contradiction at all” in the road constructed via Lipulekh pass and Nepal may have raised the issue “at the behest of someone else,” apparently referring to China.
India and China are now preparing for the fifth round of talks between the Corps Commanders of the two armies some time next week.
The last round was held on July 14 and the sides agreed to speed up the process of disengagement from all the friction points.
The Chinese have pulled back from Galwan, Hot Springs and Gogra but are reluctant to retreat from the Pangong Tso (lake). In fact, the stand-offs began from this point on May 5 when the Chinese intruded more than five km into India and obstructed an Indian Army patrol. It led to fisticuffs between the soldiers of the two sides.
In this background, the China Study Group (CSG) comprising top officials of the Defence, External Affairs and Home Ministries reviewed the situation earlier this week here.
The high-powered group was of the view that China has to disengage completely from all the friction points as a major confidence building measure.
