New Delhi (NVI): In a significant remark, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat has said that India has ‘military option’ to deal with transgressions by the Chinese army in Ladakh region along LAC, but will be exercised only if the ongoing diplomatic and military level talks to resolve the border issue fail.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Gen Rawat said, ‘Transgressions along the LAC occur due to differing perceptions about its alignment. Defence services are tasked to monitor and carry out surveillance and prevent such transgressions turning into intrusions. Whole of government approach is adopted to peacefully resolve any such activity and prevent intrusions.”
“Defence services always remain prepared for military actions should all efforts to restore status quo along the LAC do not succeed,” he told the newspaper.
The Chief of Defence Staff’s remarks comes amid the diplomatic and military levels talks between the two countries which have not yielded any result so far. Even as China talks of restoring peace and tranquility in the region, it has been dragging its feet on complete disengagement from the Finger area in Eastern Ladakh.
Speaking to HT, Gen Rawat said that Defence minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and all those responsible for national security are reviewing all options with the objective that “PLA restores status quo ante in Ladakh.”
Notably, CDS Rawat was also the Army Chief during the 73-day military standoff in Doklam against the PLA in 2017.
On Saturday, Defence minister Rajnath Singh met with the NSA Ajit Doval and the three service chiefs to discuss the stand-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh.
Earlier on Thursday, India and China held diplomatic level talks and agreed to resolve the “outstanding issues” in an “expeditious manner” and in accordance with the existing agreements and protocols, the MEA had said. It was the 18th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC).
Tensions between the two countries erupted in early May and saw an escalation after the violent face-off in Galwan Valley of Ladakh on June 15. At least 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives in the clashes with Chinese troops while China also suffered casualties but didn’t disclose.
-ARK
