August 1, 2020
After Ladakh Standoff: China opens another front against India
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali
Opening another front against India along the Line of Actual Control, China has mobilized People’s Liberation Army soldiers near Uttarakhand’s Lipulekh Pass, Times Now News (TNN) reported Saturday.
While China talks about disengagement and maintaining peace along the LAC, it is clear that Beijing is solidifying its position in the garb of peace talks which are going on at diplomatic and military level, according to TNN.
Several media reports have indicated that China is bolstering its position in the depth areas along the LAC.
According to a report by Hindustan Times, China has amassed troops across the LAC at Lipulekh Pass, parts of North Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
Lipulekh Pass has been in the news from the past few months after Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated an 80-km road to which Nepal objected and released a revised map showing Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani as its territory.
The new road will connect the Lipulekh pass in Uttarakhand with Kailash Mansarovar route in China.
Nepal provoked India again when it sent revised map to United Nations and Google.
The understanding in New Delhi is that Kathmandu’s new belligerence over an old dispute was at the tacit behest of China.
Indian Army chief Gen. MM Naravane had remarked that Kathmandu was objecting to the newly built road by India near the disputed area at the behest of “someone else”.
Meanwhile, the PLA has disengaged from patrolling points 14 (Galwan), 15-16 (Hot Springs), they are yet to vacate forward location at patrolling point 17 A (Gogra) apart from withdrawing from the Pangong Tso.
With no sign of early resolution of the border row before the onset of winter, India is preparing for the long haul and has deployed an additional 35,000 troops along the China border.
With Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) dragging its feet on restoring the status quo ante along the 1,597km Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Ladakh sector, the Indian Army has started preparing for a long winter as it does not want a repeat of April 2020 next year, according to Hindustan Times.
Top government officials confirmed that the Indian Army has asked its defense attaches posted in embassies in the US, Russia and Europe to identify warm clothes and snow tent manufacturers in case there is a need for emergency purchases.
After Operation Meghdoot in Siachen in 1984 when India seized the glacier from Pakistan, the Indian Army gets all its requirements fulfilled by local manufacturers with regard to igloos, semi-hemispherical domes, Down parkas, snow goggles, boots and gloves for troops guarding the heights in the western sector.
In his memoirs, former Pakistani president, General Pervez Musharraf states that Pakistan lost 985.71 sq mi of territory. Time magazine also states that the Indian advance captured 985.71 sq mi of territory claimed by Pakistan. Camps were soon converted to permanent posts by both countries. The number of casualties on both sides during this particular operation is not known. [Wikipedia]
Abdus SattarGhazali is the Chief Editor of the Journal of America (www.journalofamerica.net) email: asghazali2011 (@) gmail.com
After Ladakh Face-off, China may intrude in Himachal Pradesh says Gen Katoch
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali
Even as the PLA remains adamant against withdrawing its troops who intruded into Eastern Ladakh and BJP MP Tapir Gao indicates PLA intrusions in Arunachal Pradesh, China also appears to be eyeing the border of Himachal Pradesh with China Occupied Tibet (COT) with a view to create more mischief, says retired Lt. General PC Katoch.
China has no illegal claims in this area till now. Himachal Pradesh shares a 260 km border with COT which is quite porous. Of the total border length, 140 km is in Kinnaur District and 80 km of the border falls in Lahaul and Spiti District, Gen Kotch wrote Monday on News18.
After the June 15 clash between Indian Army and PLA in Galwan area, the Himachal Pradesh Police had issued an advisory to police chiefs of border districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti to institute precautionary measures to ensure security of the population and collect intelligence.
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has 20 posts along the 260 km border, indicating how porous the border is. Though patrolling is undertaken in the gaps jointly with the Army, opportunities for the enemy exist to intrude because of the ruggedness of the terrain.
According to recent ground reports, China is constructing a motorable road to Khimokul Pass (5641 metres) opposite Morang Valley in Kinnaur District of Himachal Pradesh. This will likely be extended into the two kilometers no-man’s land. Recently a mixed patrol of nine personnel (jawans and locals) from Charang village with 16 ponies and 5 porters traversed 22 km to reach the border and discovered with the melting snows that China has constructed a 20 km road towards the border with India.
Concurrently, China is also constructing a road towards Yamrang La (5570 metres) in Tibet opposite Sangla Valley of Kinnaur District. We may go lax in winters but snows are no hindrance to road construction by China. Recall in December 2017 a hunter from Bishing Village in Arunachal Pradesh had discovered the Chinese constructing a motorable road 1.25 km south of the LAC in Indian Territory under three feet of snow.
China claims Arunachal Pradesh in the eastern sector China as a part of southern Tibet. China also does not accept the McMahon Line between Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh. China negotiates with this argument by saying that the agreement happened in 1914 and it happened in its absence, thus, China continues to disagree with it.
It becomes questionable for India if China is planning to intrude on the country with troops or not. Tracing historically, one can see that it intruded on various lands such as Tibet. In 1914, Tibet was an independent country but China invaded with troops and took possession. China finally took Tibet in 1950.
In Eastern Ladakh, the PLA had constructed a new road four kilometers short of Galwan before making multiple intrusions. After their experience in Eastern Ladakh, they would be confident of retaining what they grab with India resorting to nothing more than endless talks.
Since India doesn’t admit intrusions because of domestic politics and is pusillanimous to the idea of quid pro quo intrusions, China will go for Indian Territory wherever opportunity exists along the entire length of the LAC. It does not matter whether China had any illegal claims in the region/area earlier or not. After all China has claimed entire Galwan Valley for the first time, same as claiming Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary in Bhutan. The government needs to act with alacrity, Lt. General PC Katoch concluded.
Abdus SattarGhazali is the Chief Editor of the Journal of America (www.journalofamerica.net) email: asghazali2011 (@) gmail.com
The Journal of America Team:
Editor in chief:
Abdus Sattar Ghazali
Senior Editor:
Prof. Arthur Scott
Special Correspondent
Maryam Turab
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