India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat on Friday said that situation at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh remains tense and possibility of a war with China cannot be ruled out.
“In the overall security calculus: border confrontations, transgressions, unprovoked tactical military actions—spiralling into a larger conflict therefore cannot be discounted,” CDS Rawat said.
His statement came amid an ongoing military talk between India and China at Chushul of Friday. He was speaking at Diamond Jubilee Webinar, 2020 organised by National Defence College in Delhi
However, the CDS also pointed out that India’s posturing is unambiguous and it “will not accept any shift in Line of Actual Control”. He also said that China’s People’s Liberation Army is facing unanticipated consequences for its misadventure into Ladakh because of firm responses by Indian forces.
Meanwhile, one more India, China military talks began on Friday to resolve LAC standoff. The military talks between India and China kicked off once more at Chushul in eastern Ladakh on Friday to resolve border dispute and start de-escalation of forces as soldiers were exposed to minus 20 degrees Celsius.
This was the eight Corps Commander level talks between both the countries and it began at 9.30 am. For the first time, Lieutenant General P.G.K. Menon is be leading the Indian military delegates during the talks.
Earlier, he attended two such talks but the delegation was led by then Lieutenant General Harinder Singh who was transferred last month to the Indian Military Academy (IMA) where he would be in charge of training the future generations of Army officers. Joint Secretary from the Ministry of External Affairs Navin Srivastava is also part of the delegation.
“We have firmly stated to China that disengagement will happen at all friction points and not at the selected locations as they want. Our stand is clear,” said a top government source.
In a clear message to China, just ahead of talks to resolve border issue, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday that India is facing challenges on its borders and will defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. “India is a peace-loving country and that peace can only be ensured through the ability to deter war,” Singh said while speaking at a webinar celebrating the Diamond Jubilee to mark 60 years of the National Defence College in Delhi. India and China are engaged in a seven-month-long standoff at the LAC. Despite several levels of dialogue, there has not been any breakthrough and the deadlock continues.
WITH AGENCY INPUTS..