In Historic Move, India Redirects 50,000 Troops To China Border

So far, India has moved almost 200,000 troops focused on the border, according to the Bloomberg, and there has been an increase of more than 40 per cent since last year.

New Delhi: In a strategic move, India has redirected 50,000 additional troops as a step to ensure an offensive military posture against China. The last battle against the world’s largest second economy in the Himalayas was in 1962, India’s primary focus was Pakistan as both countries engaged in three wars over the disputed region of Kashmir.

Why has India deployed troops?

In the last few months, India has moved troops and fighter jet squadrons to three distinct areas along its border with China, according to Bloomberg. So far, India has moved almost 200,000 troops focused on the border. There has been an increase of troops on the border more than 40 per cent since last year.

It is seen as a crucial move because India’s military presence has been mostly aimed at blocking the Chinese moves, and the additional deployment will offer Indian commanders more options to attack and seize territory in China if necessary in a strategy known as “offensive defense,” as per the sources.

It also includes a deployment of more helicopters to airlift soldiers from valley to valley along with artillery pieces like the M777 howitzer built by BAE Systems Inc. The strength of Chinese troops on the border is still not clear, there is speculation that the People’s Liberation Army recently moved additional forces from Tibet to the Xinjiang Military Command, which is responsible for patrolling disputed areas.

China has been adding fresh runway buildings, bomb-proof bunkers to house fighter jets, and new airfields along the disputed border in Tibet. Beijing also adding long-range artillery, tanks, rocket regiments, and twin-engine fighters in the last few months, they said

There is a fear that a miscalculation could lead to an even deadlier conflict. Although several recent rounds of military-diplomatic talks with China have taken place minimal progress have been achieved towards a return to the quiet status quo that had prevailed along the border for decades, as per the sources.