The situation is “stable, under control and yet unpredictable” at the northern border (China), Army Chief General Manoj Pande said here on Thursday. But he added China has increased deployment in the eastern sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), including Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
He also said Pakistan-backed terrorist organisations have shifted their focus to Jammu region and are trying to step up violence by targeted killings of members of minority communities like in Rajouri, the Army Chief said.
The Army Chief’s remarks on China came weeks after Indian and Chinese troops clashed in Tawang region of Arunachal Pradesh on December 9 and persisting tension for the last two years in Eastern Ladakh.
He also said massive infrastructure development work has taken place in all the regions in India facing China and the armed forces are ready to meet any challenge.
Giving the overall review of the situation along the LAC, Pande said there is a slight increase of Chinese troops deployment opposite the eastern command of India.
He refrained from disclosing the exact locations and said “we have matched the strength and are adequately well poised” to thwart any threat.
Pande said the Chinese troop presence increased as they did not return to their bases after training in the forward areas. “We are keeping watch,” he said.
Addressing a news conference ahead of the 75th Army Day on January 15, Pande said the “situation is stable, under control and yet unpredictable on the Northern Border.”
While talks are on at the military and diplomatic levels to restore normalcy in Eastern Ladakh, the Army Chief said
all the sectors of the LAC are well defended.
The LAC is divided into three sectors including western(Ladakh), middle(Uttrakhand and Himachal Pradesh)and eastern(Arunachal Pradesh).
Asked about China ramping up its infrastructure, he said India is taking appropriate measures to deal with the situation and the Border Roads Organisation(BRO) has also constructed more than 2,000 km of roads in five years along the LAC. The BRO has also built 7,450 metres of bridges in these border areas to improve logistical back up and work is on to build the 1,700 km long Frontier Highway connecting all the valleys of Arunachal Pradesh.
He said at least two tunnels are nearing completion, and they will ensure all-weather connectivity to the Tawang region.
The Army Chief pointed out that four strategic railway lines are also in the pipeline . Three of them in the north-east and one in Ladakh and source of funding is now under consideration, Pande said.
He said more than 55,000 habitats have been constructed in the last few months for troops to provide them with heated living accommodation in harsh winter months in Ladakh region. Such heated enclosures were also set up for 400 long-range guns to ensure their smooth functioning, the army chief said, adding Rs 1,300 crores were spent in the last three years on these crucial projects. On the activities of the Pakistan-backed terrorist organisations, he said they have now shifted their focus to Jammu region and were trying to step up violence by targeted killings of members of minority communities like in Rajouri.
The terrorist ‘tanzeems’ (organisations) were now trying to infiltrate into Jammu region through the international border there and adjoining Punjab, he said adding there were attempts to smuggle weapons and ammunition through drones. On the recent spurt in incidents of terrorism in Jammu, Pande said since the Army foiled their attempts in the Kashmir valley, terrorist organisations are now focussing on Jammu. Keeping in view the incidents, the Army and the Central Reserve Police Force(CRPF)have increased their presence and further strengthened the counter-insurgency grid in Jammu, the Army chief said.
Maintaining that levels of violence have overall come down in Jammu & Kashmir, Pande said the region saw just 12 infiltration bids last year and 18 infiltrators were killed by security forces.
On threats posed by drones, the Army Chief said security forces have deployed drone jammers and they have proved their efficacy till now.
On the impact of the Ukraine conflict on Indian defence preparedness, Pande said it impacted the supply of spares and ammunition for the tanks and air defence systems. India got a waiver for 40 such items for the next two to three years he said adding India is now looking for alternate sources of supply. Pande said it is a good opportunity for the Indian industry to step up its production of the needed equipment.