No friction with China in past year, stability in LAC: Indian Army Chief
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New Delhi: Chief of Army Staff, General Manoj Pande, said that the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China remains stable yet sensitive.
In an interview with ANI, he emphasised that there have been no additional friction areas between the two countries in the past year.
General Pande highlighted the ongoing talks and dialogues at both the military and diplomatic levels with the adversary to resolve issues. Since April 2020, there have been 20 senior higher military commander meetings and 14 meetings of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China-India Border Affairs.
General Pande expressed hope for a resolution through these talks.
The LAC spans 3,488 km along Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
Following the attempted change in status quo by Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh in May 2020, both sides have been deployed near Patrolling Point 15, a friction point after the Galwan clash. General Pande assured that the Army's deployment remains robust and balanced, with adequate reserves to handle contingencies.
He highlighted the focus on capability development, including the infusion of technology, modernisation, and the induction of better systems such as protected vehicles and surveillance drones.
The Army is also emphasising infrastructure development, habitat improvement, forward connectivities to the LAC, and strategic road connectivity. General Pande noted collaborative efforts with government agencies, local administration, and the local population to ensure high preparedness levels along the LAC.