India Strengthens Military, Weapons At Key Points In Pangong Lake Area After Thwarting China's Transgression Attempt

Top military and security brass has already reviewed the entire situation in eastern Ladakh. Separately, Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane held a meeting with top military officials over the fresh confrontation.

(File Photo/ AFP)

New Delhi: Hours after the People's Liberation Army of China once again tried to unilaterally change the status quo in Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh, the Indian Army has reportedly pepped up its presence on a number of locations and also increased the deployment of troops and weapons at key points around Ladakh Line of Actual Control (LAC). As per reports, the Indian Army has also further bolstered overall surveillance mechanisms in all areas along the Ladakh LAC after foiling China's fresh attempt to occupy an area on the southern bank of Pangong lake on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. After the reports of fresh attempt of transgression by China in Ladakh came to light, Army Spokesperson Col Aman Anand told media that the Chinese military carried out "provocative military movements" to "unilaterally" change the status quo on the southern bank of Pangong lake on the intervening night of August 29 and 30 but the attempt was thwarted by the Indian troops. According to sources, top military and security brass has already reviewed the entire situation in eastern Ladakh. Separately, Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane held a meeting with top military officials over the fresh confrontation. Even a military-level talks between India and China was conducted at Chushul to resolve the fresh skirmish which ended late on Monday evening and is likely to continue today. Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in the skirmish at the southern bank of the Pangong lake where the Chinese brought in close to 450 troops but the Indian Army said an attempt to change the status quo was thwarted. Sources said Chinese People's Liberation Army troops with help of ropes and other climbing equipment started climbing at a table-top area between Black Top and Thakung Heights at Pangong Tso's south bank. Hearing the commotion, the Indian Army was alerted and swung into action. Source close to Indian Army and aware of the recent developments told news agency PTI that the fresh deployment will provide India greater advantage in the region adding that India has also deployed troops from special operations battalions in the area. Even the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been told to enhance its surveillance on increasing Chinese air activities along the LAC in eastern Ladakh. There have been reports that China has deployed J-20 long-range fighter jets and several other key assets in strategically located Hotan airbase which is around 310 kms from eastern Ladakh. Both India and China have held several rounds of military and diplomatic talks in the last two-and-half months but no significant headway has been made for a resolution to the border row in eastern Ladakh. The fresh attempt by China to change the status quo in the Pangong lake area is the first major incident in the area after the Galwan Valley clashes on June 15 in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed.