The army chief in Ladakh. Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane claims the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) could be tense but the force is prepared for all contingencies.
“The nation can count on us,” said General Naravane who was on a two-day visit to Ladakh where he also met troops deployed at forward locations along the LAC.
“The situation along the LAC is tense. We have undertaken precautionary deployment in some areas. The troops are prepared for all contingencies that may arise. All these actions have been carried out only along the LAC,” the Army Chief said.
General Naravane said that he reached Leh on Thursday morning and spent time with the commanders and troops to make a first-hand assessment of the situation along the borders. Indian Army chief returned to Delhi on Friday afternoon.
“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,” said General Naravane, adding that the Indian Army is known for its commitment and resolve.
He pointed out that over the past three months, both India and China have been 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,” he said.
General Naravane said that India will continue to utilise all existing mechanisms to reduce tension and to ensure that the status quo is not unilaterally changed.
He went to Ladakh after China made fresh incursion attempts and Indian Army thwarted there acts. Chinese’s People Liberation Army (PLA) troops had made fresh incursion attempts in India territories along the south of Pangong Tso (Lake) on August 29 and again on August 31.
On August 31, Chinese troops had indulged in provocative actions after Indian soldiers occupied the heights there to thwart a PLA land-grabbing bid over the weekend.
On the intervening night of August 29 and August 30, 2020, PLA troops had violated the previous consensus agreed upon in military and diplomatic engagements during the ongoing standoff in eastern Ladakh and carried out provocative military movements to change the status quo.
Military representatives of both countries are now engaged in a dialogue to de-escalate tensions.
Indian Defence Minister Rajanth Singh and his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe is scheduled to meet later on Friday to discuss their border disputes.
Both are in Moscow to participate in the joint meeting of the Defence Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries.
Rajnath Singh, accompanied by a delegation including the Defence Secretary and other senior officials, also participated in the 75th-anniversary event of ‘Victory Day’, marking the Soviet Union’s triumph in World War II.
Addressing the joint meeting, he said India is committed to the evolution of a global security architecture which will be open, transparent, inclusive, rules-based and anchored in international laws.
He also congratulated Russia for successfully managing the coronavirus pandemic. “We applaud Russian scientists and health workers for spearheading the Sputnik V vaccine. I wish you all health and success in this time of pandemic!” he said.
The minister also appreciated Russia for organising the annual anti-terror exercise “Peace Mission”, that has contributed to building trust and sharing of experience among defence forces.
“India values the works of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure. We laud RATS’ recent work in the cyber domain to prevent the spread of extremism. The adoption of anti-terror measures by the SCO Council to counter extremist propaganda and de-radicalisation is a significant decision,” he said.
Rajnath Singh told the member countries representatives that there is need of institutional capacity to deal with both traditional and non-traditional threats – above all, terrorism, drug-trafficking and transnational crime.
“As you all are aware, India unequivocally condemns terrorism in all forms and manifestations, and condemns its proponents,” he said.
He noted that 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War as well as the formation of the United Nations, which underpins a peaceful world, where international laws and sovereignty of states are respected and states refrain from unilateral aggression on one another.
India’s participation in the Victory Parade on June 24 in Moscow was homage from India to the unparalleled contribution of Soviet people to free this world of Fascism, Nazism and their revanchist passion, he said.
“Memory of WWII teaches us of the follies of aggression of one state upon another, which brings destruction to all. Our forefathers, including those from India and the former Soviet Union, made supreme sacrifices to resist aggression & expansionism,” Singh added. (IANS)