(This was originally posted in Times Now)
New Delhi: Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane has said there has been no movement in any areas where India and China have disengaged from and added that Pangong Tso disengagement has been honoured by both sides. This statement from the Army Chief comes after China’s People’s Liberation Army started carrying out an exercise in their depth areas near the Eastern Ladakh sector.
“We all come to our training areas during this particular period. Similarly, China has also come to its training area. There has been no movement in any areas where we have disengaged from. Pangong Tso disengagement has been honoured from both sides,” said Army Chief General MM Naravane.
Indian forces on alert; Chinese movement closely watched
Meanwhile, alert Indian armed forces are maintaining a close watch on all these movements of the Chinese forces. Sources told ANI that the Chinese have been conducting summer exercises in these areas for many years. He, however, said that last year also, the Chinese had arrived in the areas in the garb of exercises but diverted their forces towards Eastern Ladakh.
This exercise by the PLA comes at a time when both sides are still holding discussions over disengagement from the existing friction points including hot springs and Gogra heights. Indian troops have also been deployed at the forward locations in eastern Ladakh and other sectors.
Chinese constructing bunkers in their territory, fortifying structures
The forces deployed by the Indian side in Ladakh including the forward most locations are the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Indian Air Force, and Indian Army which is now at the forward most locations in the sector, reported ANI.
The Chinese have not returned to their original locations and have remained at the forward locations since the border tensions which escalated last year. They have also constructed bunkers and have been fortifying their structures in their side of the territory. To keep a check on belligerent China, India has also fortified its positions with troops prepared for a long haul. India has been demanding disengagement at the Gogra, Hot Springs, and Depsang plains areas.
