IBG to be deployed on Pakistan and China borders: warns Indian Chief of

New Delhi: F-16 and JF-17 fighter jets of the Pakistani air force are patrolling near the Indian border. Whereas, China has made infiltration attempts through the Sikkim border. As per the military analysts, these simultaneous activities are not a matter of coincidence and are, in fact, a part of the anti-India strategy of China and Pakistan. Both the countries have started operations on the Indian border, as India has begun preparations to take over the Gilgit-Baltistan region from Pakistan. But Chief of Army Staff, General Manoj Mukund Naravane has delivered a stern message to both the countries, saying that the Integrated Battle Groups (IBG) will be deployed on Pakistan as well as China border.

The Indian military has developed the IBGs based on the war techniques, undergoing changes with time. Each IBG has 5,000 soldiers. These IBGs are equipped with long-range artillery guns, tanks, air defence systems and special provisions for transportation of defence equipment and other necessary items. The decision-making process of the IBGs is also said to be entirely different from the regular military. It was being claimed for a long time that the IBGs were necessary in view of the changing war scenario. These IBGs have been developed, given the challenges posed by Pakistan and China.

A report had recently been published that the Pakistani fighter jets were patrolling in the areas near the Indian border. Whereas, it was also reported that there was a conflict between the Indian and Chinese soldiers on the border in northern Sikkim. Pakistan and China are apparently trying to threaten India through these actions. The analysts claim that the Indian stand on Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir is the cause for all these actions. The CPEC project connecting China and Pakistan passes through Gilgit-Baltistan. Therefore, the Indian stand becomes a major cause of concern for China. Therefore, China had made preparations to pressurise India with an intrusion at the Sikkim border. But the reply handed out by the Indian military on the border disillusioned China. Within a day of these developments, the Indian Chief of Army Staff seems to have delivered a strong message to both Pakistan and China. Chief of Army Staff, General Naravane, clarified while talking to the media persons that the preparations for the deployment of the IBGs are complete and they could be deployed on the borders at any point in time. The process was delayed because of the war against Coronavirus pandemic.

Last year, in October, the Indian military held war exercises named Him Vijay, in Arunachal Pradesh. The IBG had demonstrated its strength during these exercises. Therefore, the significance of the warning issued by the Indian Chief of Army Staff, regarding deployment of IBGs, increases manifold.