India-China Border Tensions: Army Occupies Crucial Heights Overlooking Chinese Army Positions At Finger 4 Area

The operations to occupy the heights were carried out along with the pre-emptive actions to occupy heights near the Southern bank of Pangong Tso around August-end.

This handout satellite image taken on June 22, 2020, released by Maxar Technologies shows the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Patrolling Point 14 in the eastern Ladakh sector, the border between India and China. - China and India have agreed to reduce tensions a week after their deadliest clashes in over 50 years on the disputed Himalayan border left 20 Indian troops dead in brutal hand-to-hand fighting. (Photo by - / Satellite image ©2020 Maxar Technologies / AFP)

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing military standoff along the Line of Actual Control, the Indian Army has occupied heights overlooking the Chinese Army positions at Finger 4 along Pangong lake. The operations to occupy the heights were carried out along with the pre-emptive actions to occupy heights near the Southern bank of Pangong Tso around August-end, news agency ANI reported citing sources said on Thursday. Chinese Army had occupied the heights near the Finger 4 but the Indian Army has now occupied the heights which overlook the Chinese positions at heights including the Green top, the agency has reported.  It is to be noted that the Chinese forces have been sitting at Finger 4 from around April-May timeframe but have refused to disengage from there and other friction points. The development comes days after India took control of strategic height near Pangong lake's southern bank and thwarted a transgression bid by the Chinese near Chushul. Earlier in the day the two armies held interactions at Brigade Commander-level and Commanding Officer-level on Thursday which are aimed at keeping the communication lines open between the two sides. Meanwhile, the External affairs minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi are coming face-to-face today in a bilateral meeting which is being seen crucial to mitigate the tensions along the line of Actual Control. Indian defence today got a shot in the arm as the first batch of Rafale fighter jets were inducted in the Indian Air Force. "I am glad that now we have one of the best multi-role aircraft in the world which will be instrumental for our border security. During my recent visit to Moscow, I made it clear that India would not compromise its sovereignty and territorial integrity," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on the occasion. In yet another crucial development of the day at the naval front, keel was laid for third ship (Yard- 12653) of the prestigious P17A class stealth frigates. The seven frigates under P17A series of which four are being constructed in MDL, have stealth features which will enhance the combat capability of the Indian Naval fleet, when commissioned.