PM Modi visits Leh to take stock of India-China border situation
PM Modi visits Leh to take stock of India-China border situation
M.U.H
03/07/2020502
Weeks after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in violent clashes with Chinese soldiers at Galwan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday arrived in Leh, Ladakh to review the ongoing border conflict. This is the first high profile visit from the executive leadership to the region ever since the border standoff erupted in early May.
The Prime Minister, accompanied by Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and Army Chief General MM Naravane, arrived at Nimu this morning and interacted with Army, Air Force and ITBP personnel.
He is scheduled to meet the soldiers who were injured in the clashes, as well as the local military leadership, including Lt. General Harinder Singh, XIV Corps Commander.
Nimu, a forward location, is at a height of 11,000 feet and among the tough terrains. It lies on the banks of the river Indus and is surrounded by the Zanskar range.
While paying tributes to the soldiers during his Mann ki Baat address last Sunday, Modi had said: “Those who cast an evil eye on Indian soil in Ladakh have got a befitting response. India honours the spirit of friendship… she is also capable of giving an appropriate response to any adversary, without shying away. Our brave soldiers have proven that they will not let anyone cast an evil eye on the glory and honour of Mother India.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was initially scheduled to visit Ladakh today along with the Army Chief, but his visit was deferred on Thursday.
Friday marks Naravane’s third visit to Ladakh since the standoff began in May. He visited the XIV Corps headquarters in Leh on his first visit, while on his second, he met the injured soldiers and visited forward areas.
Lt. General Harinder Singh, on the other hand, has met his Chinese counterpart for three high-level military discussions so far, the last being on Tuesday. The discussions have been inconclusive, suggesting that more military and diplomatic meetings will be required to end the stalemate.
Both sides had “emphasised the need for an expeditious, phased and step-wise de-escalation as a priority,” at the meeting held at Chushul, which is on the Indian side of the Chushul-Moldo Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) point in eastern Ladakh. The previous two meetings, on June 6 and June 22, had been held on the Chinese territory at Moldo.
Indian and Chinese troops have been involved in a face-off at multiple locations in the region. The friction points include North bank of Pangong Tso, Hot Springs, Vohra Post and Galwan Valley.
While at Pangong Tso, China has built substantial structures till Finger 4, which is 8 km west of India’s claim of LAC at Finger 8; they have also built some structures at Patrolling Point 14 in the Galwan Valley.
China has also crossed the border at Depsang Plains, which is close to India’s strategically-important Daulat Beg Oldie post near Karakoram Pass in the north.
The other major concern has been the heavy military build-up in the depth areas by China, which has been mirrored by India by moving in additional divisions and air defence assets.