Indian Army chief Gen. Manoj Pande said on Thursday that the situation at the border with China is stable but “unpredictable.”
COMMENTS
Without naming China, Gen. Pande said that the Indian Army had “been able to prevent any attempts by [the] adversary to unilaterally change the status quo in a robust manner,” as Indian soldiers have been deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) “in a firm and resolute manner.”
The army chief told reporters that Beijing and New Delhi were continuing communication through diplomatic and military channels and that the Indian army was maintaining a high level of preparedness.
“We have adequate forces. We have adequate reserves in each of our sectors to be able to effectively deal with any situation or contingency. I would say the situation is stable and under control, yet unpredictable,” he said.
Noting that the Russia-Ukraine conflict had affected the supply of spare parts needed by the Indian army, Gen. Pande commented on India’s reliance on equipment from these countries.
“The sustenance of these weapons systems — equipment in terms of spares [and] ammunition — is one issue that we have addressed,” the general added.
Over 60% of India’s military equipment is sourced from Russia.
We also have the Army Martial Arts Routine (AMAR) which will help in dealing with combat situations. It is an amalgamation of different martial arts in the country: Gen Manoj Pande
— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2023
RECENT TENSIONS
The army chief’s recent remarks came after Indian and Chinese troops clashed along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh last month, leaving several injured on both sides.
Indian media reports claimed that 20 Indian soldiers and “a much higher number on the Chinese side” sustained minor injuries. Reportedly, around 300 PLA soldiers were involved in the face-off.
This marked their first such confrontation since 2020.
However, it has since been reported that India has been covering up the frequency and extent of its border clashes with China along the LAC to prevent the public from panicking.
TALKS
Since the deadly Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, wherein as many as 20 Indian soldiers and 45 Chinese soldiers were killed, India and China have held 17 rounds of Senior Commander-level meetings, and agreed to establish several “no patrolling zones” and complete disengagement in the northern and southern banks of the Pangong Tso area near Ladakh.
In fact, the two sides began the disengagement process at Gogra Hot Springs (PP-15) on 8 September as per an agreement reached at the 16th round of the India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting in July.
They also withdrew troops and took down temporary infrastructure set up along the LAC for the first time since the 2020 clash.