‘Army working to restore status quo along LAC’ ‘Territorial integrity’ non-negotiable: Top Army officer

Indian Army’s Northern Commander Lt. Gen. Y.K. Joshi, who is responsible for defence of Eastern Ladakh, said on Saturday that while military negotiations with China are going-on to resolve the stand-off, the “territorial integrity” of the country is non-negotiable and “we remain prepared at all times for any eventuality”. He said that all efforts will be made to restore the status quo and the Army would take all measures to ensure security on the line of actual control (LAC) with China.

“There is a method to every process. And our ongoing military engagement with the PLA to diffuse the situation is no different. There are certain commitments required from the two sides which are essential for the process to move ahead positively and deliver the outcomes that are desirable,” Lt. Gen. Yoshi told a news channel.

“There are certain factors though such as territorial integrity of the

country that are not negotiable and hence there is no question of compromising there. While we are investing sincerely in this ongoing endeavour to bring about peace along the border, we also remain prepared at all times for any eventuality,” he said.

Lt. Gen. Yoshi said that the challenges of Kargil War and the present situation are in a different domain and to compare them would be incorrect.

“We (Army) as an organisation concluded that situation (in Kargil) in 1999 to our satisfaction then, so would be in this case too,” he said. On how long he sees the standoff with China to continue, he said, “It is a hypothetical question which would lead me to make conjectures. What I can tell you in simple words is that we shall continue all efforts to restore the status quo ante along the LAC.”