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India may consider own tent options
Even as the Army Chief, Gen. Bikram Singh, on Thursday briefed defence minister A.K. Antony on the issue of the Chinese incursion in Ladakh, India could soon consider the retaliatory option of exercising similar pressure on China by establishing tented posts of Indian troops in other sectors along the LAC.
While Indian troops are not engaging in any action that could provoke the Chinese just yet, this option could be considered in case Chinese troops do not end the occupation of their tented post in the Daulat Beg Oldi sector in eastern Ladakh soon. Chinese troops have been occupying the post for the past 10 days. Sources indicated the issue may ultimately have to be resolved at the tactical level by local commanders since there seems to be no military mobilisation by either side.
Meanwhile, external affairs minister Salman Khurshid, speaking at Ficci on Thursday, likened the current tensions in Sino-Indian ties to acne. He said that just as a spot cannot ruin a beautiful face, the current strain cannot spoil bilateral relations.
We shouldnt destroy years of investment, years of contribution that we have made to this relationship because somewhere some little thing goes wrong. One little spot is acne which cannot force you to say that this is not a beautiful face. He added, That acne can be addressed by simply applying an ointment. He said this should not be considered as a surrender or admission of defeat. According to him, Ointment is a part of the process of growing up just as acne is part of the process of growing up. And the relations between India and China is a relationship which is growing up (sic). The minister said, We had started off as children who fought over something they needed, demanded or believed were theirs. They have grown up into two beautiful adults who can talk about these things and who can find a solution.
Mr Khurshid also remarked that disagreement on any issue is not betrayal. He said, People ask me what is wrong with India that all its neighbours are not its friends, what is wrong with India? And I tell them, you have an idea of friendship which is different from mine. My idea of friendship is when you are frank, free with each other, you have expectations and you deliver.
The minister also said that doomsday predictions with regard to China are completely absurd. He added, Its absurd not so much for China as its absurd for us. Our duty is to serve India, not to serve China. The Chinese foreign ministers duty is to serve China and I believe that we have a mutual interest but our concern is our interest and our interest is part of a mutual interest and that is what is very fortunate for us.
With China so far not exhibiting any aggressive rhetoric so far, any outright military mobilisation by India to intimidate the Chinese is only being seen as the last option. India is aware that the Chinese too could retaliate in ample measure. But India could send more troops to the area in case any significant Chinese military movement is detected. Indian troops in Ladakh continue to be on a state of alert. The China Study Group, comprising key bureaucrats, is playing a major role within the government to decide Indias course of action. The CSG is understood to have been already briefed by the Army on the available options.
Speculation is rife that India may consider use of unmanned aerial vehicles as well as stepping up of border patrolling along the Line of Actual Control. There is also speculation that some vehicular movement may have been noticed on the Chinese side and that supplies to the Chinese soldiers at the tented post could be replenished but there was no official word on this. The Chinese had earlier built a road in their territory which is reportedly a few km from the tented post now established by them. It remains unclear whether the decision to establish the tented post was taken by a local commander acting on his own judgment or whether there was some larger territorial design by Beijing.
Despite speculation that a third flag meeting between the two sides may take place soon, sources said no fresh flag meeting had been scheduled as of now. While there have been reports in the past few days about Chinese military helicopters hovering over the LAC, Indian defence sources have dismissed media reports of fences being erected by the Chinese near the LAC.
India may consider own tent options | The Asian Age
Even as the Army Chief, Gen. Bikram Singh, on Thursday briefed defence minister A.K. Antony on the issue of the Chinese incursion in Ladakh, India could soon consider the retaliatory option of exercising similar pressure on China by establishing tented posts of Indian troops in other sectors along the LAC.
While Indian troops are not engaging in any action that could provoke the Chinese just yet, this option could be considered in case Chinese troops do not end the occupation of their tented post in the Daulat Beg Oldi sector in eastern Ladakh soon. Chinese troops have been occupying the post for the past 10 days. Sources indicated the issue may ultimately have to be resolved at the tactical level by local commanders since there seems to be no military mobilisation by either side.
Meanwhile, external affairs minister Salman Khurshid, speaking at Ficci on Thursday, likened the current tensions in Sino-Indian ties to acne. He said that just as a spot cannot ruin a beautiful face, the current strain cannot spoil bilateral relations.
We shouldnt destroy years of investment, years of contribution that we have made to this relationship because somewhere some little thing goes wrong. One little spot is acne which cannot force you to say that this is not a beautiful face. He added, That acne can be addressed by simply applying an ointment. He said this should not be considered as a surrender or admission of defeat. According to him, Ointment is a part of the process of growing up just as acne is part of the process of growing up. And the relations between India and China is a relationship which is growing up (sic). The minister said, We had started off as children who fought over something they needed, demanded or believed were theirs. They have grown up into two beautiful adults who can talk about these things and who can find a solution.
Mr Khurshid also remarked that disagreement on any issue is not betrayal. He said, People ask me what is wrong with India that all its neighbours are not its friends, what is wrong with India? And I tell them, you have an idea of friendship which is different from mine. My idea of friendship is when you are frank, free with each other, you have expectations and you deliver.
The minister also said that doomsday predictions with regard to China are completely absurd. He added, Its absurd not so much for China as its absurd for us. Our duty is to serve India, not to serve China. The Chinese foreign ministers duty is to serve China and I believe that we have a mutual interest but our concern is our interest and our interest is part of a mutual interest and that is what is very fortunate for us.
With China so far not exhibiting any aggressive rhetoric so far, any outright military mobilisation by India to intimidate the Chinese is only being seen as the last option. India is aware that the Chinese too could retaliate in ample measure. But India could send more troops to the area in case any significant Chinese military movement is detected. Indian troops in Ladakh continue to be on a state of alert. The China Study Group, comprising key bureaucrats, is playing a major role within the government to decide Indias course of action. The CSG is understood to have been already briefed by the Army on the available options.
Speculation is rife that India may consider use of unmanned aerial vehicles as well as stepping up of border patrolling along the Line of Actual Control. There is also speculation that some vehicular movement may have been noticed on the Chinese side and that supplies to the Chinese soldiers at the tented post could be replenished but there was no official word on this. The Chinese had earlier built a road in their territory which is reportedly a few km from the tented post now established by them. It remains unclear whether the decision to establish the tented post was taken by a local commander acting on his own judgment or whether there was some larger territorial design by Beijing.
Despite speculation that a third flag meeting between the two sides may take place soon, sources said no fresh flag meeting had been scheduled as of now. While there have been reports in the past few days about Chinese military helicopters hovering over the LAC, Indian defence sources have dismissed media reports of fences being erected by the Chinese near the LAC.
India may consider own tent options | The Asian Age
