Indian Army fully prepared for long-term deployment along LAC Rawat

New Delhi: General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Defence Services (CDS), assured that the Indian Army is fully geared up for long-term deployment on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The tension created following the conflict in the Galwan Valley, in June, continues to reign and all the bilateral discussions on the subject have failed. Therefore, this statement made by General Rawat, in front of the parliamentary committee, becomes important. Against this very background, China has once again appealed that peace and stability need to prevail on the border with India.

India delivered a severe blow to China in the Galwan Valley conflict. Rocked by the blow, China has adopted a policy to while away time. While engaging India in talks to defuse the tension, China is using the tactic of deploying soldiers in various regions. But India, aware of the Chinese tactics, has preferred to take aggressive and harsh steps. India clearly warned China, during the meeting held in the last week, that India will not reduce its soldier deployment unless China withdraws its soldiers.

In the last two months, India has deployed two additional Army divisions on the LAC. At the same time, numbers of advanced drones, fighter jets and attack helicopters have been greatly increased. The Indian Army is prepared to face any challenge, anywhere, on the LAC along with Ladakh, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh. Along with CDS General Rawat, other senior military officials firmly assured regarding this, during a recent hearing.

Winter will start in the next one or two months and a major part of the LAC is under snow cover during winter. This season becomes testing times for the soldiers due to the sub-zero temperatures and recurrent snowstorms. The Indian Army is known as an expert in handling these situations and this is being prominently underlined during this period of tension with China. The preparedness of the Indian Army is becoming a cause of concern for China and therefore, China has once again started speaking the language of peace and stability.

The Chinese foreign ministry published a statement saying ‘It is important that both the sides take the responsibility of peace and security in the border regions, to maintain the relations between India and China. This becomes mandatory for the development of bilateral cooperation and stability. China will make efforts to develop common interests and strengthen reciprocal confidence.