Arun Joshi

Army Chief Gen MM Naravane today visited the forward areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, where some of the areas are reckoned to be flashpoints between India and China, and reviewed the operational preparedness of the troops to meet any eventuality.

Gen Naravane told jawans on the frontiers in eastern Ladakh that the whole nation was with them and the nation expected them to remain vigilant and be prepared to meet any situation that might arise on the borders, though he added with emphasis that the real focus was to maintain peace and tranquillity on the borders.

Eastern Ladakh has been theatre of standoffs and skirmishes, ranging from fisticuff fights to the extreme violent clashes. On May 5, there were scuffles, but on June 15, a clash at the Galwan valley, at an altitude of nearly 14,000 feet, had left 20 Indian soldiers dead, while China has not spelled out the number of its casualties of that day.

An Army spokesperson from Leh confirmed that Gen Naravane reviewed the operational situation in the eastern Ladakh sector and he was briefed by the General-Officer-Commanding, Trishul Division, about the prevailing situation — a reference to the heightened tension due to stiff faceoff between India and China. The Trishul Division looks after Chushul and Pangong Tso where the standoff is very severe.

Gen Harinder Singh, Corps Commander of 14 Corps, who had led the military delegation in talks with his Chinese counterpart on Monday, briefed the Army Chief about the whole gamut of events and also the way talks were held to reach a consensus to de-escalate the standoff in the due course of time.

The Indian Army would wait and watch the whole situation developing in the next few days before taking further steps and that would depend on the behaviour of Chinese troops at the LAC.

He interacted with troops deployed in the sector and complimented them for their steadfastness and high morale.

Courtesy: Daily Tribune:  27th June, 2020