Asked whether China was “enemy number 1” for India at the Times Now summit on Thursday evening, Gen Rawat said there was no doubt about it. “The danger on the northern borders is huge,” he said.
“We are fully prepared for any misadventure. If they again carry out the Galwan-like incident, they will get it (back) in the same coin as they got last time,” he said. General Rawat, The CDS was referring to the violent clashes between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh’s Galwan Valley on June 15 last year.
On the 18-month-long military confrontation in eastern Ladakh, he clarified that India’s immediate priority is to ensure troop detachment at friction points with “adequate isolation and distance” so that there are no unintentional incidents. While such disruptions have occurred in “nearly all sectors”, including Pangong Tso – Kailash Range areas, some places strategically located such as Depsang Ground And this CNN There are junctions left in Demchok.
“Disruption is likely and will happen. But due to the kind of infrastructure that China has developed, de-escalation appears far-fetched… it will take a long time,” he said.
The Indian armed forces, on their part, are well prepared for further deployment in the high-altitude region for the second consecutive winter, and unless China agrees to withdraw its troops to a position before April 2020. Till then, we will not back down.
“We have already stocked up for winter. If the opponent indulges in any misadventure, we have sufficient resources to counter him. We will not back down because we are concerned that China will retake its position. If the Chinese are going to live there permanently, we will too,” the CDS said. Noting that there is “mutual doubt on both sides”, he said that India “will not let its guard down” as the People’s Liberation Army has better infrastructure and can return faster to further places.
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