Naravane reviews preparedness along China, Pakistan borders

A recent ground assessment by India’s security establishment has suggested that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army has consolidated its military positions along the LAC

Army chief General M.M. Naravane. : File photo

Imran Ahmed Siddiqui   |   TT  |  New Delhi   |   31.03.22  :  Army chief General M.M. Naravane on Wednesday reviewed India’s operational readiness along the borders with China and Pakistan during a meeting at the army’s central command in Lucknow.

“The army chief held a meeting with top commanders of the army and the Indian Air Force and reviewed military preparedness along the China and Pakistan frontiers,” a source in the defence ministry said.

Gen. Naravane, an official said, also interacted with the heads of the different army and IAF commands responsible for the monitoring ofthe 3,488km Line of Actual Control stretching from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.

“He reviewed the deployment of formations along the LAC as well as the western borders with Pakistan as the troops are transitioning from winter to summer posturing. China’s massive deployment along the LAC was deliberated at length during the meeting,” the official said.

The top commanders also discussed the strategy of the adversaries and India’s military preparedness to respond to emerging threats and challenges, sources in the army said.

A recent ground assessment by India’s security establishment has suggested that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army has consolidated its military positions along the LAC in Ladakh.

During a meeting between external affairs minister S. Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Delhi last week, India had ruled out normality in relations as long as troops remained on the border.

During Wednesday’s meeting, sources said, the military conflict in Ukraine and the unfolding situation in Afghanistan were discussed along with their possible long-term implications for India and the region.

So far, India and China have held 15 rounds of military talks but the PLA is said to have refused to restore the pre-April 2020 status in eastern Ladakh and pressed India to accept the altered frontier created by the Chinese transgressions.