The situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China is stable but remains sensitive, outgoing Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi told NDTV.
He added that the Indian Army continues to maintain a robust deployment posture to deter threats and respond to any contingency.
In an interview with NDTV ahead of his retirement on Tuesday, General Dwivedi said agreements on disengagement have improved stability along the northern border, with both India and China showing greater responsiveness to each other's concerns.
He said renewed diplomatic and military engagements over the past year have helped reduce tensions, resolve routine border management issues and build mutual confidence.
The Army chief cited several developments as signs of gradual normalisation, including the formation of an Experts Group under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) to explore boundary delimitation, the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and direct flights, consensus on border trade through three passes and visa relaxation measures.
At the military level, he said more than 1,100 ground-level interactions take place every year through hotlines, flag meetings and commander-level engagements to resolve local issues.
General Dwivedi stressed that stability does not mean complacency. He said infrastructure development, surveillance, logistics, mobility, and capability enhancement along the northern borders remain priority areas and that the Army is prepared for both routine border management and operational challenges.
On Chinese infrastructure activity in Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, he reiterated that the region is an integral part of India and said the Army closely monitors developments that have implications for India's security while maintaining operational readiness.
General Dwivedi said the Army's long-term strategy is to maintain peace and stability through dialogue while ensuring credible preparedness and infrastructure.