Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Monday apprised about the situation at Line of Actual Control (LAC), saying that the situation was “stable but sensitive”. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has met the Chinese head over the issue.
When asked about the situation at the LAC, Dwivedi said, “It is stable but sensitive. There have been a series of meetings. Even the Prime Minister has met the Chinese head.”
The Army chief further said that from April 20 onwards, both sides had moved forward and stopped the other side from going to the traditional areas of Depsang and Demchok in Ladakh, where they were carrying out the patrolling.
“Coming on to Depsang and Demchok, April 20 onwards, both sides had moved forward and stopped the other side from going to the traditional areas where they were carrying out the patrolling. As far as verification patrolling (is concerned), two rounds have already been completed by both sides over a period of time and both are quite satisfied with it. As far as the grazing ground is concerned, they have now mutually agreed upon…There is nothing called as buffer zone,” Dwivedi added.
The Army chief informed that some places were declared as a “temporary moratorium” amid the discussions during the violence. Dwivedi said that both sides will refrain from visiting the common areas as there are chances that the “violence level” might increase.
“Where you feel that the nature or the degree of violence can be high and the fuse is short, you create some distances. So when we carried out these negotiations over a period of time, some places were declared as a temporary moratorium. It means that both sides will remain back and will not go to the common areas because we still feel that if we meet at those places the violence level may go high,” he added.
The trust between India and China has a new definition, Army Chief Dwivedi said, adding that there was a need to come to a broader understanding in order to calm the situation and restore the trust.
“After April 20, the trust between the two countries has to have a new definition. Therefore, there is a requirement for us to sit together and thereafter come to a broader understanding of how we want to calm down the situation and restore trust. We are now looking forward to the next special representatives meeting which should take place,” Dwivedi said.
Furthermore, the Army Chief informed that nearly 1,700 women officers will be joining the Indian Army and the tri-services after their training concludes.
“Approximately 1700 women officers are presently training in the Sainik schools, military schools… So, it means that they will be coming to the Indian Army and the tri-services. So, therefore, it is something that is to happen and it will happen in the most mature way,” Dwivedi said.
He said that 60 per cent of terrorists killed in Jammu and Kashmir were Pakistani nationals. At a time when the efforts were to move towards terrorism, he added that 80 per cent of the terrorists active in the J&K are also from Pakistan.
“Violence level in Jammu and Kashmir is being orchestrated by the epicentre of terrorism in Pakistan. We have added 15,000 troops in 2024 and that is why terrorists have been neutralised in that area,” the Army Chief said. (ANI)
