The armed forces veterans here are concerned over the recent misadventures of China along the Indian border; they however are hopeful that with a new Government at helm in New Delhi the Indian foreign policy towards China would see a marked change.
The Army Chief General Bikram Singh in his recent lucknow visit had expressed grave concern over slow pace of road construction and other infra structure related activities along the Indo- China border.In the last three months, Chinese air force has violated Indian air space thrice and in one occasion intruded into Indian territory.
The Chinese troops have reportedly air dropped lakhs of maps in the border areas recently these maps depict some of the Indian parts as their territories. On July 15 in Barahoti sector of Chamoli district the Chinese troops intruded into the Indian side and burned the tents of some shepherds. lt General (retired), KK Khanna PVSM, AVSM said that the policy framers of our country should keep the Indian interests in forefront while devising foreign policy.
He highlighted the role of robust diplomacy to tackle a neighbour like China. Khanna was of view that the Indian foreign policy and defence preparedness under Narendra Modi would witness a major change as the new Prime Minister does not have to carry the unnecessary baggage and burden of past which the Congress was holding.
The President, Emeritus, Dehradun Ex-Services league, Brigadier (Retired), KG Behl told The Pioneer that after our Prime Minister met the Chinese President, Xi Jinping at BRICS Summit at Brazil, it was expected that the relations between India and China would ease but even before our Prime Minister could returned home, the Chinese troops intruded into Indian territory.
He said that Indian government should adopt an aggressive stance towards a deceptive China. Behl said that the India's defence preparedness should be such that it should be able to ward off worst possible scenario of a simultaneous two pronged attack from Pakistan and China.
He stressed the need to build an extensive road network along the Indo China border so that our troops reach there quickly in case of an emergency. Behl was of the view that Indian Government should provide the local population of border areas with necessary resources for their livelihood so that they become nucleus for providing necessary information to Indian troops.