New Delhi: In the midst of the three-year military conflict in eastern Ladakh, China has not withdrawn soldiers along the LAC and has continued to expand border infrastructure at “a very hectic pace,” according to Army chief General Manoj Pande.
“Overall, the situation along the LAC is stable but we need to keep a very close watch as it develops,” he added while speaking at the India Today conclave.
Since conducting several incursions into eastern Ladakh in April-May 2020, the People’s Liberation Army has maintained a forward deployed force of about 50,000 soldiers and heavy equipment. Along with a “high degree” of operational readiness, the Indian Army has a “strong” presence in all three sectors of the 3,488-kilometer-long LAC, which runs from eastern Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.
“We have adequate reserves to deal with any contingencies. With the infusion of new technology and weapon systems, our capability development is an ongoing endeavour. Equally, we are focussing on infrastructure development, especially in forward areas like roads, helipads etc,” General Pande stated.
The Army chief expressed optimism that the ongoing “friction points” at the strategically significant Depsang Plains and Demchok in eastern Ladakh would be resolved during the diplomatic and military discussions with China.
“It’s only through dialogue and talking to each other that we can find a resolution. In the balance friction points that is what our aim and endeavour is. Till the time it happens, our deployment of forces, and alertness level will continue to remain at a high level,” said General Pande.
Turning to Pakistan, he claimed that while attempts to cross the international border and the use of drones there to drop weapons and drugs have increased, while infiltration levels across the 778-km Line of Control (LoC) have decreased as a result of the Army’s “robust” counter-infiltration grid. Moreover, “no meaningful diminution in the terror infrastructure” in Pakistan has taken place.
