New Delhi (NVI): Army Chief General MM Naravane today visited forward areas in Eastern Ladakh and reviewed the operational situation on the ground amid an escalation in border tensions between India and China following a violent clash between the troops on June 15.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) commended the troops deployed in the region for their high morale and exhorted them to continue working with zeal and enthusiasm.
“General MM Naravane #COAS visited forward areas in Eastern #Ladakh and reviewed operational situation on the ground. #COAS commended the troops for their high morale and exhorted them to continue working with zeal and enthusiasm,” the Indian Army tweeted from its official ADGPI handle.
General MM Naravane #COAS visited forward areas in Eastern #Ladakh and reviewed operational situation on the ground. #COAS commended the troops for their high morale and exhorted them to continue working with zeal and enthusiasm.#NationFirst pic.twitter.com/gc0rmw69Fs
— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) June 24, 2020
The Army Chief is in Ladakh on a two-day visit which ends today, to review the situation after the Galwan face-off at Line of Actual Control (LAC). He had yesterday visited the injured soldiers at Military Hospital in Leh and interacted with them.
Gen Naravane’s visit comes two days after the second round of military-level talks were held between India and China at Moldo on the Chinese side of Chushul in eastern Ladakh on Monday, to defuse the tensions between the two countries after a bloody clash between troops from both sides.
20 Indian soldiers lost their lives in the worst-ever flare-up between the troops on both sides of the LAC since 1967.
The Army today also responded to queries on whether the COAS awarded Commendation Cards to men involved in the face-off at Galwan.
In a statement, the Army clarified, “…whenever the COAS visit formations or units, it is a norm to award ‘on the spot’ Commendation Cards to personnel who exhibit exceptional devotion to duty. In the instant case also, personnel have been awarded for devotion to duty.”
At the Corps Commander level talks held on June 22, both the sides arrived at a ‘mutual consensus to disengage’ in Eastern Ladakh. Sources said that modalities for disengagement from all friction areas in Eastern Ladakh were discussed and will be taken forward by both sides.
The June 6 meeting was also held at the same place in which the Indian side was led by Commander of Leh-based 14 Corps Lt Gen Harinder Singh and the Chinese side was led by South Xinjiang Military District Commander Major General Liu Lin.
Meanwhile, a crucial meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China border affairs (WMCC) will take place today where the two sides are expected to discuss on how to resolve the stand-off at four points in East Ladakh.
