Sanjha Morcha

Army Chief holds strategic talks, ends Ladakh visit

Army Chief holds strategic talks, ends Ladakh visit

Manoj Mukund Naravane, Army Chief General

Arun Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 25

Army Chief General MM Naravane concluded his visit to Ladakh on Thursday after having made strategic calculations to face any eventuality in view of the prevailing situation on the borders in eastern Ladakh.

Reviews situation

General Naravane, who was scheduled to conclude his two-day visit on Wednesday, extended it by a day to further review the situation as many reports came in regarding fresh intrusions by Chinese troops in Despang, Pangong Tso and the diversion of waters of the Galwan river.

Sources said after assessing the situation, the Army Chief had drawn a roadmap to maintain the Indian position on the LAC and also to ensure that no violent clashes and casualties took place in the sector that had turned hyper-sensitive in the military terminology.

The situation had deteriorated after the June 15 Galwan valley clashes in which India lost 20 soldiers, while the Chinese stayed quiet about their casualties.

It was a significant visit to take a first-hand review of the situation vis-à-vis the Chinese aggression and their strategic ramifications unfolding in the region. These face-offs have been measured by the international community as “serious” and the calls for deescalation have peaked.

General Naravane, who was scheduled to conclude his two-day visit on Wednesday, extended it by a day to further review the situation as many reports came in regarding fresh intrusions by Chinese troops in Despang, Pangong Tso and the diversion of waters of Galwan river. The emerging situation called for further assessment to work out plans, making General Naravane extend the visit and draw new strategies along with his commanders.

The Northern Command chief Lt-Gen YK Joshi and 14 Corps Commander Lt-Gen Harinder Singh, whose troops look after the boundaries in the whole of the Ladakh sector, were part of these strategic meetings.

Lt-Gen Harinder Singh, who had twice led the Indian side in the military-level talks with his Chinese counterpart in the Chushul-Moldo area along the Line of Actual Control, briefed the Army Chief about the nature of the dialogue and the body language and the moves that the Chinese made during the talks that lasted for hours.