Jammu, Apr. 24 (ANI): Chief of Army Staff, General Bikram Singh, concluded his two-day visit of Jammu and Kashmir today.
General Singh’s visit to the state came even as the Indian Army has reportedly moved an infantry regiment specializing in mountain warfare to Ladakh’s Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) sector.
General Singh reviewed the security scenario in the state, especially Ladakh where Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) of China has intruded about 10 kilometers inside the Indian territory at Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) sector.
The Army Chief also met Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during his visit.
General Singh, who met top commanders of the Army, is said to have discussed various issues related to the Armed Forces with formation commanders and interacted with troops deployed on the line of control and Counter Insurgency duties.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid today said that both India and China are yet to demarcate their borders, hence these incidents keep happening frequently.
“Perceptions do vary from their side and our side as to what is the actual line of control, so when the perceptions vary, sometimes disagreements on the ground can take place and we have a system in place, which kicks in immediately over the issue and then that system tries to provide a solution. That’s what we are doing right now, that process is going on and I hope that we will find a solution,” he said.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony today said the government will take every step to protect the national integrity of the country to resolve the situation arising out of the incursion by Chinese troops in Ladakh.
“Our government will take every step to protect the national integrity of the country. At the same time, negotiations are going on at various levels to resolve the issue peacefully,” he said.
Apparently taking a tough stance on the reported presence of Chinese troops ten kilometers inside Indian territory in the Ladakh region, India yesterday asked China to maintain status-quo on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Referring to the incident that is being reported widely in the Indian media, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said during his regular briefing today said that ‘New Delhi sees this as a face-to-face situation between border personnel of the two sides due to differences on their alignment of the Line of Actual Control’.
“We have therefore asked the Chinese side to maintain status-quo in this sector and by status-quo I mean status-quo prior to this incident. The term face-to-face situation is not something that we have conjured up, it is something that is referred to under 205 protocol for the implementation of CBMs in the military field along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China border areas,” he added.
Akbaruddin said the ongoing incident in the Depsang area of the western sector of the India-China boundary is a localized event.
“This is a sector in which there are differing perceptions of the Line of Actual Control. That’s why we have since 1996 been maintaining that there is a need for the sides to work together in clarifying and confirming the Line of Actual Control,” he added.
Akbaruddin said Joint Secretary (East Asia) Gautam Bambawale, who chairs the working mechanism for consultation and coordination on India-China border affairs spoke to his counterpart, who is the Director General Border Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about the incident on April 16.
“Subsequently, on 18th morning there was a flag meeting. Following that on 18th evening, the Foreign Secretary expressed the concerns of the Government of India to Ambassador of China in Delhi,” he added.
According to reports, a Platoon-strength contingent of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) entered the Indian territory in Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) sector in eastern Ladakh and erected a tented post, setting the stage for a face-off with Indian troops.
Daulat Beg Oldi, which is located in northernmost Ladakh, is a historic camp site. It is located on an ancient trade route connecting Ladakh to Yarkand in Xinjiang, China.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/army-chief-visits-jk-discusses-border-situation/
