With China amassing troops and artillery at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) after its latest failed intrusion bids, Army Chief General MM Naravane on Friday admitted that the situation is “tense and the forces have taken all necessary precautionary steps and are ready to meet any challenge”. However, he favoured dialogue to resolve the current logjam at the borders.
The Army Chief is on a two-day visit to the borders in Ladakh.
Meanwhile, at Chushul, Brigadier-level talks continued for the fifth day on Friday to de-escalate the situation on the South Bank. However, these parleys remained inconclusive like the earlier discussion this week. The two officers will meet again on Saturday, sources said.
Reviewing the situation, especially in the Chushul sector, including the Pangong Tso (lake) where the Indian Army on August 29 and 30 thwarted Chinese transgression attempts, Naravane said he was there to make a first-hand assessment of the situation along the borders.
“The situation along the LAC is tense. We have undertaken precautionary deployment in some areas. The troops are prepared for all contingencies. All these actions have been carried out only along the LAC,” he said.
As regards efforts to bring down temperatures at the volatile border, the Army Chief said over the past three months, both sides are engaged in resolving the situation. Military and diplomatic channels are functioning. The Indian side is firmly committed to resolving the current situation along the LAC through engagement.
“We will continue to utilise all existing mechanisms to reduce tension and to ensure that the status quo is not unilaterally changed,” he added.
On the morale of the troops guarding the frontier in the current surcharged atmosphere, Naravane said, “It was very satisfying to see our soldiers and local commanders in high morale and good health. It gives me confidence that they are well prepared to safeguard the territorial integrity of our nation. The army is known for its commitment and resolve. The nation can count on us.”
The Army Chief on the spot assessment came in the backdrop of the Chinese significantly enhancing their troop strength besides deploying tanks and heavy guns. These deployments took place near the southern bank of the Pangong Tso where the Indian Army foiled their bids to gain the hilltops on August 29 and 30 and then again on August 31 even as the Brigadiers of the two armies were holding talks to defuse the current crisis.
Besides moving forward infantry and tanks in the Chushul sector, the Chinese have also brought ahead their long-range artillery guns. They are now positioned not more than 15 km from the volatile LAC and these guns have a range of more than 20 km.
In a precautionary step, the Indian forces have also started increasing its strength in the area with additional troops, tanks, and guns. Moreover, the Indian Army now dominates all the crucial heights in the south of the Pangong and can easily detect any movement of the Chinese tanks and troops on the other side of the LAC in Moldo, sources said here.
Incidentally, IAF chief RKS Bhadauria had visited critical air bases on Thursday in eastern India. This review came as the armed forces all the along the 4,000 km LAC stretching from Ladakh in the west to Arunachal Pradesh in the east are on high alert. The IAF has deployed most of its front line fighter jets on the airbases closer to the LAC and are maintaining round the vigil.
