NEW DELHI: The situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh is currently stable, but sensitive and not normal, Chief of Army Staff Gen Upendra Dwivedi said on Tuesday at the Chanakya Defence Dialogue event here dragging military standoff between China and India in the region.
Though a 'positive signalling' is coming out from the diplomatic talks between the two sides on resolution of the row, the execution of any plan depends on the military commanders on the ground, Gen Dwivedi said.
India and China held two rounds of diplomatic talks in July and August with an aim to find early resolution of outstanding issues in their standoff on the LAC in eastern Ladakh.
"But when it comes to the execution on ground, when it relates to ground per se; it is dependent on the military commanders on both sides to take those decisions," the Army Chief said, responding to a question.
Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi reiterated that “we want the situation that existed pre-April 2020 restored, whether it’s ground occupation/situation, buffer zones created or the patrolling that has been planned. Till that time that situation is not restored, as far as we are concerned the situation remains sensitive and we are fully operationally prepared to face any contingency.”
As far as the Army is concerned it has stood by its stand since beginning and was reported by TNIE last year that the Army has clarified that things cannot get normal until the patrolling rights are restored.
The Chinese moving in troops in April 2020 was the breach of all five agreements/understandings signed since 1993. There are 65 patrolling points with two add-ons in between, beginning from Karakoram Pass and stretching down to Demchok.
It was exclusively reported earlier by TNIE that the Indian army has put its foot down on the issue of restoration of patrolling rights to the traditional patrolling points in the remaining standoff locations, as the talks between India and China are underway for troop disengagement in eastern Ladakh both at the diplomatic and military levels.
India and China have held regular military and diplomatic meetings to communicate the views from both sides and work towards restoration of the pre-April 2020 conditions.
There have been 21 rounds of SHMCL (Military) and 31 rounds of WMCC (Diplomatic) meetings. The technical term for Corps Commanders Talks is Senior Highest Military Commander Level (SHMCL). Talks at the SHMCL levels took place for the first time on 6 June 2020. Otherwise matters were resolved at the Higher Commander Level (Major General) meetings.
There have been 21 rounds of India-China Corps Commander Level (SHMCL) Meetings with the last one held at Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on 19 February 2024. The 31stmeeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination (WMCC) on India-China Border Affairs was held on 29 August 2024 in Beijing.
"The 'friction' due to the standoff between the ground forces of the Indian Army and the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) remains at two friction points Depsang and Demchok. The military has been consistent in its interpretation of the processes of disengagement from Galwan, Gogra, Hotsprings and North and south banks of Pangong Tso which “does not change India's claim over the alignment of LAC.”
Sources have been saying that "all disengagements carried out earlier also have been done on the basis of mutual and equal security with no prejudice to LAC claims by either side."
But the standoff at Depsang is of much significance because Chinese troops have blocked access to PPs 10, 11, 11A, 12, and 13. The area out of access, as per the sources, is around 952 sq km.
As reported earlier by TNIE, the five PPs, which are located east of the strategic Sub-Sector North road, are close to the LAC, but not located right at the LAC. However, they are located inside the line that marks Indian Territory.
Sub Sector North, of which Depsang is a part, is strategically most important. The terrain is such that large-scale armour operations are possible. China has multiple roads feeding this area while India has only one functioning road -- the DSDBO road -- and is working on developing alternate routes.
By sitting at the Y Junction, China can obstruct India's movement. Depsang is also a link towards Siachen and the DBO airfield. The Y Junction is about 20 kms from the strategic airfield Daulat Beg Oldi. The PPs are patrolling points identified and marked on the LAC where regular patrolling is done to assert the physical claim about the LAC.
As per general estimates, G219 (Tibet- Xinjiang Highway) is at a distance of less than 4 hours from Depsang. The average altitude ranges from 14,000 ft to 18,000 ft. There are valleys and plains which allow fast movement of vehicles.
But, the problems exist due to differences in perception regarding the present boundary between India and China which came into existence after the 1962 border war. The Line of Actual Control (LAC) is military-held.
The problems keep occurring as there exists differences in perceptions among the border guarding forces of both countries about the actual alignment of the boundary on the ground.
The other standoff which remains is at the Charding Nonong Nallah (CNN) in Demchok with around three tents pitched across. The LAC passes through CNN.
Tension prevails all along the 3,488 km long Line of Actual Control with soldiers from each side along with heavy equipment like Missiles, Artillery, Tanks and other heavy equipment being deployed since May 2020.
It was during the skirmish at finger areas on the Northern Bank of Pangong Tso, as first reported by TNIE, that the Chinese moved in their troops. With the Chinese People’s Liberation Army troops moving in large numbers, the Indian Air Force had to swing into action, pressing its strategic airlift transport fleet.
Over 68,000 troops were moved within a limited period to forward locations, and 90 tanks, 330 Infantry Combat Vehicles, the Russian BMPs, and several artillery guns were airlifted—a total load exceeding 9,000 tonnes.
'Army is prepared to face any kind of a contingency'
"Till the time the situation is not restored, as far as we are concerned, the situation will remain sensitive, and we are fully operationally prepared to face any kind of a contingency," the Army Chief said.
Gen Dwivedi also briefly touched upon the Indian military's overall approach towards China.
"As far as China is concerned, it has been intriguing our minds for quite some time. I have been saying that with China, you have to compete, you have to cooperate, you have to coexist, you have to confront and contest," he said.
Last month, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks at St Petersburg in Russia with a focus on finding an early resolution to the row.
In the talks held on the sidelines of a conclave of BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) nations, the two sides agreed to work with "urgency" and "redouble" efforts to achieve complete disengagement in remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh.
(With inputs from PTI)
