Tensions along LAC lower with forces on alert

BOTH THE SIDES ARE ENGAGED IN A DIALOGUE THROUGH DIPLOMATIC, MILITARY CHANNELS WITH INDIA LOOKING AT PHYSICAL VERIFICATION OF PLA’S WITHDRAWAL BEFORE COMING OUT WITH ANY POSITIVE STATEMENT

NEWDELHI:BORDER tensions in eastern Ladakh have come down a notch with India watching the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) fulfil its June 6 commitment of de-escalating and disengaging its troops along the 1,597 km Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the western sector.

While the two armies are locked in a forward military position in the Ladakh sector, reports of some lowering of tensions in two out of four standoff points are trickling in despite both sides remaining on high military alert.

“The border situation continues to be dynamic and it is for the PLA to restore status quo ante after it unilaterally tried to change the ground situation since last month in violation with the existing agreements and confidence building measures,” said a senior official who requested anonymity.

Tensions have risen in recent weeks along the LAC, leading to a brutal brawl between troops of the two countries in the Galwan Valley on June 15 in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed. The Narendra Modi government is very clear that the PLA does not establish a new normal on the LAC and wants it to go back to the old normal for peace and tranquilly to prevail on the border and for bilateral ties to be restored. It is also watching the time taken by the PLA to restore status quo ante as anything less than that would be an exercise in perfidy.

Both the sides are engaged in a dialogue through diplomatic and military channels with India looking at physical verification of the PLA’S withdrawal before coming out with any positive statement. With the Darbukshyok Daulet Beg Oldi (DSDBO) road complete, Indian Army engineers are now connecting patrolling posts with roads so that the capacity and capability of troops to respond to any unilateral action from across the border increases manifold.

With China deploying surfaceto-air missiles in Aksai Chin in May, the Indian side has also responded in the same fashion with long-range weapons placed all along the 3,488 km LAC. Besides China, the Indian Army is also watching the Pakistani posture in occupied Gilgit-baltistan.

Although many western armchair strategists have stated that India will take help of its key ally, the US, in case the red flag goes up, the mood in the Narendra Modi government is to go solo with sufficient force deployed to repel or compensate for any action by the adversary. The Indian military is deployed in air, land and at sea with submarines patrolling the deep and ready for any deterrent action.

National security planners are confident that better sense will prevail over PLA commander in chief and President Xi Jinping and Western Theatre Commander Zhao Zongqi as no conflict is one-sided.