Amidst a strong posturing by China against India’s military infrastructure in Ladakh, during the recent Line of Actual Control (LAC) stand-off, Defence Minister A K Antony, on Saturday, asserted that the Indian armed forces will continue development of border military facilities “within our soil”.
Dismissing reports of India demolishing its bunkers in Chumar sector in south Ladakh to end the Daulat Beg Oldi confrontation with China on May 5, Antony said, “as far as we are concerned, the status quo ante as of April 15 has been restored.”
After negotiations between the diplomacy and military officials on both sides, the matter was resolved with Chinese troopers dismantling their tents and returning to their original base.
“As China has a right to improve, increase and expand infrastructure and other facilities on its territory, India too has the right to develop infrastructure on our soil and we will continue to increase our capability,” Antony said to a question on the pace of border infrastructure modernisation.
Earlier, after commissioning INAS 303 - the new naval combat planes squadron of Russian-origin MiG-29K - that will operate on board INS Vikramaditya (erstwhile Admiral Gorshkov), Antony said India must develop capabilities to overcome challenges from its adversaries.