Moving troops ahead ‘must’ to tackle China

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 18

Stating that India’s pre-emptive moves in the Kailash Range in Ladakh has partially neutralised Chinese advantage in that sector, Lt Gen HS Panag, former GOC-in-C, Northern and Central Commands, stressed that India must not make any compromises because even a stalemate in this situation would be a defeat for China.

Speaking at a session on Sabre Rattling in Ladakh during the Military Literature Festival here today, he said though the overall advantage was still with China, if India could advance troops in areas like the Indus valley sector and southern sector, the Chinese advantage could be fully neutralised.

Lt Gen Raj Shukla, GOC-in-C, Army Training Command, said: “Tactically, our response to the Chinese aggression has been fairly good, but we need to synergise them in the larger strategic framework. We need to act against the strategic squeeze from the LAC to the Indian Ocean Region to ensure successful deterrence to China.”

Lt Gen DS Hooda, former GOC-in-C, Northern Command, said it was clear from the level of preparedness that this incident was different from earlier incursions and the level of violence seen was unprecedented. “We were also taken by surprise as to why the PLA was doing it at this time when the entire world was affected by the pandemic and neither was there any breakdown in Sino-Indian ties or any large trigger,” he said.