CDS Chauhan visits India-China border, reviews operational preparedness
Chief of the Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan visited the forward areas along the Indo-China boundary in the Middle Sector under Central Command of the Indian Army to review operational preparedness. He was briefed about the prevailing security situation and ground imperatives in this region. The CDS interacted with the troops deployed on the ground and appreciated their professionalism and dedication, and commended the inter-agency cooperation, the Army said in a statement.
Army Chief warns against China's 'Grey zone' tactics
Earlier, Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi expressed concerns over China's "Grey Zone" tactics along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). He warned that despite a currently stable situation on the border, it was "not normal." "China is creating artificial settlements to shift the status quo and establish gray zones. We are well-prepared for their settlements and infrastructure developments," he stated.
What General Dwivedi said
During the Chanakya Defence Dialogue, General Dwivedi had said that the current circumstances remain "sensitive," and India is fully prepared for any eventuality. General Dwivedi said India's objective is to restore the situation to its pre-2020 status, before the military standoff that began in May 2020, which includes returning to previous conditions regarding ground occupation, buffer zones, and patrols.
India-China relations
In April 2020, China made an attempt to breach the Indian side of the de facto border, which was successfully countered by Indian forces. However, tensions remain high in eastern Ladakh and other sectors along the border with China due to ongoing efforts by China to alter the status quo. This situation has led to continued friction and heightened vigilance among Indian security personnel in the region.
'Trust between India-China biggest casualty'
Last week, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar characterized India's relationship with China as "very significantly disturbed," saying that normalcy cannot be achieved until the border situation is addressed. General Dwivedi noted that trust between Indian and Chinese forces along the LAC has become the "biggest casualty" of the ongoing tensions. In an effort to resolve the outstanding issues in their standoff in eastern Ladakh, India and China held two rounds of diplomatic discussions in July and August.
Multiple rounds of military and diplomatic dialogues
Since 2020, India and China have conducted multiple rounds of military and diplomatic dialogues, resulting in disengagements at several friction points. However, a complete resolution of the border dispute remains elusive. Last month, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the BRICS conclave. Both sides agreed to work with "urgency" and to "redouble" efforts toward achieving full disengagement at the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh.
