'Situation Along Eastern Border With China Is Stable But...': Lt General RP Kalita

Lt General RP Kalita said there are different perceptions about the Line of Actual Control (LAC) which lead to problems between Indian and Chinese armies.

General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Eastern Command, Lt General RP Kalita on Friday said the situation along the eastern border with China was "stable" but "unpredictable" due to different perceptions about the boundary, PTI reported. The Eastern Command takes care of the LAC in the Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim sectors.

Speaking at a press meet in Kolkata, Lt General RP Kalita said, "The whole problem stems from the fact that the border between India and China is undefined. There are different perceptions about the Line of Actual Control (LAC) which lead to problems. As of now the situation in the eastern side of the border is stable but unpredictable due to different perceptions about the border."

Lt Kalita's remarks come weeks after a violent faceoff between Indian and Chinese troops on December 9 in Arunachal's Tawang. On December 9, clashes erupted after Chinese soldiers tried to transgress the LAC near Yangtse in Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh. The incident left 35 Indian soldiers and 40 from the Chinese side injured. 

He said the Eastern Command was continuously monitoring the activities across the border and were prepared to beat any kind of emerging challenges.

"Eastern Army is responsible for maintaining territorial integrity on eastern borders and the task has been executed by our units and formations with utmost professionalism and dedication. We are continuously evolving and aware of oncoming operational challenges," ANI quoted Lt General RP Kalita as saying.

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When asked about China increasing deployment of troops along border areas, Lt Gen Kalita said, "We have read that gradually there has been an increase in deployment of troops opposite our sectors along with infrastructure being carried out by People's Liberation Army (PLA) across the down borders."

He said that the Chinese Army ramped up infrastructure development along the LAC post the 2017 Doklam issue within their own territory.

"On our side, to mirror those activities, infrastructure development has been carried out to ensure better response from us in case we're required to do it," he said.