Army Chief M M Naravane toured Leh and reviewed the security in Ladakh amid border tension with China. Both India and China have pumped in additional troops, built fortifications and pitched tents at a few stretches along the LAC in three areas in eastern Ladakh. Army chief General M M Naravane on Friday made a quiet trip to Leh, the headquarters of the 14 Corps in Ladakh, to take stock of the operational situation along the disputed Line of Actual Control amid rising tensions between India and China.
The Army chief’s visit comes at a time when troops of both countries are involved in a face-off in at least 4 areas along the LAC in Ladakh. A day ago, New Delhi said China was hindering India’s normal patrolling patterns along the unresolved border, which has witnessed rival troop build-ups after violent clashes.
Both India and China have pumped in additional troops, built fortifications and pitched tents at a few stretches along the LAC in three areas in eastern Ladakh, which include the northern bank of Pangong Tso, Demchok and Galwan Valley areas, after the violent clashes between the rival soldiers on May 5-6.
At least five rounds of talks between Indian and Chinese troops since then have failed to de-escalate tensions in Ladakh as the two sides have maintained aggressive posturing in the disputed border areas. India has traditionally downplayed tensions along the LAC with China as “routine and temporary”, one that occurs because of “differing perception of the LAC”.
The Chinese have been far less polite. Its state media has called this the “biggest escalation since Doklam” and warned that “if India exaggerates the friction, the Indian military will have to pay a heavy price for it.” Global Times, the official mouth piece of the Chinese regime claims the border standoff is an attempt by the Indian government to deflect attention from its “poor handling of the Covid-19 pandemic”.