Senior Indian military leaders are gravely concerned about the situation along the India-China border, saying that a standoff between the two countries’ troops in the Himalayan border region could trigger a larger conflict.
India’s Chief of Defense Staff Bipin Rawat noted Friday (Nov. 6) that tensions are high along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Ladakh region, where a standoff between thousands of troops from both countries has been going on for months.
In a statement published online, Rawat said, “We will not accept any move of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).”
The Army’s four-star general said, “The overall security situation cannot rule out the possibility of a larger conflict that could result from a combination of factors such as border confrontations, cross-border operations, and tactical military operations conducted without provocation getting out of hand.”
Rawat also warned that China and Pakistan are conspiring to conduct some sort of operation that poses a new threat to India. The Times of India quoted Rawat as saying that China and Pakistan together would pose an “omnipresent” risk of strategic instability in the region and could lead to an escalation of the confrontation.
Both India and Pakistan possess nuclear weapons and have been involved in numerous armed conflicts.
In June, both Indian and Chinese troops suffered casualties in hand-to-hand combat along the India-China military border, with 20 killed and dozens more wounded on the Indian side. The Chinese side has not released specific figures, but it is widely believed that the number of Chinese casualties was no less than that of the Indian side. Since the conflict, both sides have strengthened their forces on the front lines.
In recent months, both sides have attempted to defuse the border situation through diplomatic and military channels, but so far with little success, and soldiers from both countries continue to endure below-freezing temperatures on the frozen plateau.
On Friday, senior military commanders from India and China met in Ladakh for the eighth round of talks between military chiefs.
Indian officials said the talks may involve a Chinese proposal to withdraw some troops from a disputed area on the northern shore of Lake Bangkong Tso. In that area, troops from both sides are only a few hundred meters apart.
On the southern shore of Lake Bangkongtso, there is a standoff between the two armies. They were equipped with artillery and armored vehicles. The Chinese side has been forcing the Indian troops to pull back.
India is determined to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity and to confront unilateralism and aggression at any cost, Indian Defense Minister Singh said Thursday.
Singh stressed that peace can only be ensured by enhancing the ability to deter war.
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