The alleged intrusion of Chinese troops in the Barahoti area of Chamoli district in Uttarakhand is being dubbed as pressure tactics by the armed forces veterans here. They are of the view that the China is trying every possible method to put pressure on India as Indian troops are holding on to their positions in Dokhlam located in Bhutan despite repeated threats by the Peoples liberation Army (PlA) to backtrack.
Major General Chander Nandwani (Rtd) said that there is a feeling in China that its dominance is South East Asia is waning. China is feeling threatened by rise of India and is deploying every possible tactics for destabilizing India. He emphatically added that war is nowhere in sight between the two nuclear power nations. Major General Nandwani said that China also understands that its economy would enter into a phase of recession if India imposes trade sanctions on its hostile neighbour.
Brigadier K G Behl (Rtd) said that in order to force India to vacate Doklam,
China has tried to show its might through various demonstrations of strength in their territory by troop movement, moving its tanks and showing off other weapons. “China is aware that it is having a vast commercial trade with India and if they attack they will be big losers. let us hope the Chinese authorities will like to have a peaceful solution and settle all the disputes peacefully,’’ he said.
Another veteran Col NS Rawat (Rtd) insists that nothing much should be deciphered from intrusion of Chinese troops into some eight hundred meters in Barahoti area in Uttarakhand. He said that China has done this many times in the past to underlie its claim that the area is disputed territory.
The Chinese troops reportedly went inside Indian Territory in Barahoti area on July 25 and asked Indian shepherds to vacate the area. These troops later returned to their base across the line of Actual Control (lAC). It is worth mentioning here that Barahoti, a pasture land measuring about 80 square kilometres is a demilitarized zone as part of agreement between the two countries. The troops of both countries do not carry weapons while patrolling the area. Interestingly team of Chamoli district administration regularly visits the area which is a measure to show that the area is part of India.
Uttarakhand shares a 375 km long international boundary with China in the Pithoragarh, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts. The state government has recently has started developing infrastructure in the border areas as part of its effort to strengthen its position.