Jammu: The Defence Ministry in its annual year-ender report has accused China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of using unorthodox weapons to escalate the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh while maintaining that the Chinese Army suffered significant casualties on June 15 clash in Galwan Valley.
While referring to the situation in eastern Ladakh, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the report said that “unilateral and provocative actions by the Chinese to change the status quo by force, in more than one area on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), were responded to in a firm and non-escalatory way, ensuring the sanctity of our claims in Eastern Ladakh.”
The report said that the Indian Army has maintained all protocols and agreements between the two countries while the PLA escalated the situation by utilisation of unorthodox weapons and amassing a large number of troops.
“Indian Army with assistance from IAF, mobilised troops including accretionary forces in a very short duration including heavy equipment like guns, tanks as also ammunition, rations and clothing,” it said. “Own Engineers constructed roads, accommodation shelters and bridges to assist troop deployment.”
“In a major skirmish in Galwan, 20 brave Indian soldiers lost their lives while preventing PLA troops from ingressing into our territory”, the defence ministry report said.
The report said that the Chinese also suffered significant casualties. Later on 28-29 August 2020, own troops in a precautionary deployment, pre-empted Chinese expansionist designs and occupied heights along the southern bank of Pangong Tso.
The report said that “braving inclement weather, own troops continue to be deployed on these heights. Advance Winter Stocking (AWS) and winter preparations for the enhanced strength has been completed and troops are well entrenched to counter any misadventure by Chinese forces.”
It also said that while the Indian Army is prepared for any eventuality, talks are also progressing to resolve the issue in an amicable manner.
The report further said that the Indian Army has resolutely countered adversaries along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and maintained high training standards while being at the forefront combating the COVID-19 pandemic during the year.
“There has been no let-up in operational readiness along the LC, LAC, hinterland and the security of military establishments,” it said.
“Indian Army has not just ensured force preservation but has also ensured that operational readiness remains unaffected in order to safeguard the borders of the nation,” the report reads—(KNO)