With no sign of an early breakthrough in the standoff between India and China at several points in Ladakh, Indian forces on Wednesday carried out a major exercise by airlifting ammunition, weapons, clothing, and other critical items for the troops at the Line of
Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.
Several IAF planes flew round-the-clock carrying these items as part of winter stocking. This assured logistical chain will enable the troops to perform their operational duties in a more efficient manner in temperatures dipping to minus 20 degrees or more at several places there.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is also likely to hold talks with the Army commanders on this issue during his visit there on Thursday.
Giving details of the effort, IAF officials said here the joint airlift exercise “Operation Hercules” was undertaken by the IAF and Army.
“The aim of this high-intensity airlift was to strengthen the logistics supply in the Northern sector and to augment winter stocking in the operational areas.
The platforms utilised for the airlift were C-17, IL-76 and An-32 aircraft, which took off from one of the forward bases of Western Air Command. The effort was a real-time demonstration of the inherent heavy lift capability of the IAF, which has played a major role in ensuring the ability to quickly respond to any contingency during the past,” they said.
Last year, India and China did not withdraw their troops from the frontline at the LAC in Ladakh in the winter months unlike in the earlier years. Given the persisting tension there since May last year, the two sides will remain posted this year too in the harsh winter months.
Army Chief General M M Naravane and IAF Chief V Chaudhari had recently visited the forward areas in Ladakh to review the operational readiness of the armed forces during the winter months. They also reviewed the status of winter stocking.
Incidentally, the effort on Wednesday came days after the Army carried out a high-tempo airborne exercise in Eastern Ladakh involving more than 3,000 paratroopers and Special Forces commandos. The three-day exercise also saw the army practicing airdropping vehicles and light tanks at heights ranging from 14,000 feet and above.
In a related development, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)General Bipin Rawat on Thursday will inaugurate a revamped war memorial in eastern Ladakh’s Rezang La. It is the site where Indian troops valiantly fought the Chinese in 1962.
The memorial is dedicated to the brave Indian soldiers who laid down their lives in the Battle of Rezang La.
Official sources said after inaugurating the memorial, the Defence Minister will also carry out a review of the security situation with top Army commanders in the backdrop of the lingering border row with China. Rawat is also set to accompany the Defence Minister during his Ladakh visit. Naravane will not be able to attend the event at Rezang La as he is on a five-day visit to Israel.
The Indian Army had occupied a number of mountain peaks in Rezang La region in August last year following China’s aggressive posturing and failed attempt to intimidate Indian troops.
At present more than 50,000 troops each from both sides are deployed at the LAC as standoffs persist at some places. India and China have held 13 rounds of Corps Commander level talks since last year. The last round of military talks on October 10 ended in a stalemate following which both sides blamed each other for the impasse.
In a strong statement after the 13th round of talks, the Indian Army said the “constructive suggestions” made by it at the negotiations were neither agreeable to the Chinese side nor could Beijing provide any “forward-looking” proposals. India and China are likely to hold another round of diplomatic level talks soon under the aegis of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC).