Army Chief Expects Talks To Resolve The Border Crisis With China
Indian Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane said on Tuesday he expected talks to lead to an amicable solution to the border crisis with China that flared last year after a scrap in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed.
“I am hopeful that talks will lead to an amicable situation but we are prepared to meet any challenge,” Gen Naravane said during the annual Army Day press conference.
The army chief said Chinese troops have moved back from depth areas in the Tibetan plateau but there has been no thinning of troops at friction points in eastern Ladakh.
Gen Naravane added that the situation in Ladakh will be resolved on the basis of mutual and equal security, which he said was important for disengagement and then de-escalation. The general also said that Pakistan and China pose a potent threat and their nexus can’t be wished away.
“Pakistan and China together form a potent threat and the threat of collusivity cannot be wished away,” General Naravane during his annual press conference today, ahead of the Army Day.
“Pakistan continues to embrace terrorism. We have zero-tolerance for terror. We reserve our right to respond at a time and place of our own choosing and with precision. This is a clear message we have sent across,” he added.
“We did so and came out on the top. The main challenge was COVID-19 and the situation at the northern borders… We have maintained a high state of alertness all along the northern borders. We are hoping for a peaceful solution but are ready to meet any eventuality. All logistics are taken care of,” he said.
“A broad roadmap has been prepared to bring in all the new technologies to develop a technology-enabled army to meet challenges of future,” Naravane said.
