The Chief of Army Staff, General Manoj Pandey visited units and formations along the LAC in East Arunachal Pradesh and was briefed about the operational preparedness and security situation on Jan 23, 2023. Photo Credit: ANI
Army Chief General Manoj Pandey has also made a comprehensive review of India’s military preparedness. line of actual control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh in his first visit to the border state since last month Clash between Indian and Chinese army in Tawang sector,
Officials said Gen Pandey during his visit on Sunday visited some other strategically important posts along the de facto border with China in Residuary Arunachal Pradesh (RALP).
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He said the senior commanders in Arunachal Pradesh briefed the army chief about the overall security scenario in the border areas.
“Gen Manoj Pandey #COAS visited units and formations along LAC in eastern #Arunachal Pradesh and was briefed on operational preparedness and security situation. #COAS lauded troops for maintaining high vigil and Call upon all to continue working with equal enthusiasm and dedication,” the Army tweeted.
On Saturday, General Manoj Pandey reviewed the military preparedness of the Army along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim during his visit to the headquarters of the Eastern Army Command in Kolkata.
Gen Pande’s visit to the crucial command came six weeks after Indian and Chinese troops clashed in an area along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector.
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The Eastern Command looks after the LAC in the Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim sectors.
There has been a fresh spurt in tensions between India and China after troops from both sides clashed on the LAC in Yangtse in Tawang sector on December 9.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said in Parliament on 13 December that Chinese troops tried to “unilaterally” change the status quo in the Yangtze region, but the Indian Army’s firm and resolute response forced them to retreat.
General Pandey said on January 12 Situation on border with China ‘stable’ but ‘unpredictable’ And Indian troops are adequately deployed to deal with any contingency.
They also said that there has been a slight increase in the number of Chinese troops in their areas in the eastern sector. “But we are keeping a close watch on the movements and activities there,” he added.
Apart from eastern Ladakh, the Indian Army is also focusing on enhancing infrastructure along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. After the eastern Ladakh standoff, the Indian Army significantly enhanced its operational capabilities along the LAC as well as in the eastern theatre.
Army officials said the Army has put in place an effective surveillance mechanism and the overall surveillance of the areas has improved significantly in the last two years.
From building roads, bridges and ammunition depots to strengthening its surveillance apparatus, the army is rapidly ramping up military infrastructure in the region for rapid mobilization of troops.
Indian and Chinese troops have been locked in a standoff for over 32 months in several areas along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.
India says that until there is peace in the border areas, its relations with China cannot be normal.
The standoff on the eastern Ladakh border started on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong Lake area.
After this, relations between the two countries declined significantly. Fierce clash in Galvan Valley in June 2020 which marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.
As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, both sides completed the disengagement process on the north and south banks of Pangong Lake and in the Gogra area.
Last September, the Indian and Chinese armies disengaged from Patrolling Point 15 in the Gogra-Hotsprings area.